After a record-breaking fifth edition that transformed Nairobi’s streets into a sea of runners, Nairobi City Marathon race director Barnaba Korir says organisers have already shifted their focus to an even bigger and more vibrant event in 2027.
A total of 17,450 participants registered for this year’s edition, underlining the race’s growing stature on the athletics calendar. Of those, 1,750 signed up for the full marathon (42km), while 5,050 registered for the half marathon (21km).
The largest field was in the 10km race, which attracted 6,550 runners, while the 5km Family Fun Run drew 4,100 participants. Korir highlighted the favourable weather conditions on Sunday, June 7, 2026, which made the race day even more exciting.
”We had very beautiful weather today,” Korir said.
On Sunday, Enock Kemboi and Joy Kemuma were crowned champions in the 42km race after timing 2:09:33 and 2:27:43, respectively. In the half-marathon, Brian Kogo (1:00:55) and Doreen Cherop (1:09:19) claimed the titles while Zakariah Gacugu (27:47) and Phane Jairus (31:27) won the 10K titles.
Korir, who also serves as the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) first vice president and Athletics Kenya chair for youth development, highlighted that the Nairobi Marathon just keeps growing and exceeding numbers.
“The event is growing every year and we will continue building on that growth,” he noted.
After a successful 2026 edition, Korir is setting sights on more record-breaking participation in 2027.
I am sure next year we will have even more runners.”
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya hailed this year’s marathon as a resounding success, saying the event exceeded expectations through its massive participation and vibrant atmosphere.
“This has been a very successful marathon. The Nairobi City Marathon is a sensational race and, as a ministry and government, we will continue supporting it,” Mvurya said.
Mvurya noted that the Nairobi City Marathon continues to play a crucial role in unearthing the country’s next generation of stars.
”Therefore, this calendar event is a very important event for us,” he said. ”We have new talents and stars who have emerged, and I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who participated.”
He added that the impressive registration numbers reflected the deep-rooted running culture and enthusiasm for athletics among Kenyans.
“This year, we had a registration of over 17,000 participants, and we are happy about the kind of attraction. It shows the level of excitement and inspiration that Kenyans have in marathons and athletics,” he added. “We also had international athletes who were here, and that is a big thing.”
The CS further highlighted the marathon’s growing significance as a sports tourism asset. “This City Marathon is an advertisement for our country because tourism is also benefiting from it.”
Former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) president Paul Tergat also praised the depth of talent on display, stressing the need for more competition opportunities.
“We have so much talent in this country; exposure is what we are lacking. When we have more competitions like this, we are giving our sportsmen and women an opportunity to showcase their abilities and remain active throughout the year,” he said.
Tergat was particularly impressed by the overwhelming turnout. “The number of people who registered really excited me. We have never seen such numbers. We are happy that people in Kenya are embracing sports and fitness.”
