More Than 1,000 Runners Take Part in Friends of Karura Anniversary Race Ahead of Nairobi Marathon
More Than 1,000 Runners Take Part in Friends of Karura Anniversary Race Ahead of Nairobi Marathon
NAIROBI, September 27, 2026
More than 1,000 runners took to the trails of Karura Forest on Sunday for the Friends of Karura Anniversary Race, as preparations gather pace for the 23rd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
The race, held ahead of the October 25 marathon at Uhuru Gardens, brought together athletes, families and fitness enthusiasts for a day that combined sport, community participation and environmental conservation.
Participants competed in 21km, 10km, 5km and 2km races before joining a family-friendly celebration and a Berlin Marathon watch party at Amani Gardens.
The Friends of Karura Anniversary Race is among a series of warm-up events supported by Standard Chartered to help runners prepare for the Nairobi Marathon.
Standard Chartered Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing for Kenya and Africa, Joyce Kibe, said the warm-up races provide runners with an opportunity to test their preparation and build confidence ahead of the main event.
“The warm-up races are an important part of the journey towards the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, giving runners an opportunity to test their preparation, build confidence and connect with fellow participants ahead of the main race,” Kibe said.
She added that the strong turnout at Karura demonstrated how running can bring communities together while supporting environmental conservation.
The 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is expected to attract more than 30,000 participants from 102 nationalities, including more than 400 elite athletes.
The international field will include runners from Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil and Ethiopia, among other countries.
Peter Njui, Operations Manager of the Friends of Karura Anniversary Race, said the partnership with Standard Chartered has helped strengthen the running community while promoting the conservation of Karura Forest.
“The warm-up races give runners an opportunity to prepare for the marathon while bringing people together around causes that matter to our communities,” Njui said.
He said the Karura race also provided an opportunity to celebrate the forest and ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the important green space in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service.
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has grown beyond a sporting event into a platform for community participation and social impact.
Since its inception, the marathon has attracted more than 345,000 participants and raised approximately KES520 million for programmes supported through the Standard Chartered Foundation.
The programmes focus on employability, entrepreneurship and skills development for young people, women and people with disabilities.
The 23rd edition has secured a record combined sponsorship of KES273 million, with Standard Chartered committing KES130 million and other sponsors providing a further KES143 million in cash and in-kind support.
With the Friends of Karura Anniversary Race now complete, runners will turn their attention to the main event on October 25, when thousands of participants are expected to converge at Uhuru Gardens for one of Kenya’s biggest annual road-running events.
