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Nairobi City Marathon (2022–2026)

Nairobi City Marathon

Building Africa’s Premier One-Day Athletics Meeting

Since its launch in 2022, the Nairobi City Marathon has rapidly evolved from a new entrant on Kenya’s competitive road-running calendar into one of Africa’s fastest-growing city marathons. Built around Nairobi’s iconic Expressway and vibrant urban landscape, the event was designed to position Kenya’s capital as both a global athletics destination and a leading hub for mass participation running and healthy lifestyles. Over five editions, the marathon has become a flagship sporting event that continues to enhance Nairobi’s reputation as a premier destination for road running and sports tourism.

As the official organiser, we have proudly guided the Nairobi City Marathon’s growth from inception, delivering end-to-end event management, participant services, and world-class race operations. Drawing on the expertise of the wider Golazo Group, we have implemented international standards in course design, timing systems, and event delivery while adapting them to the Kenyan environment. Through operational excellence, strategic stakeholder collaboration, and scalable event systems, we have helped establish the Nairobi City Marathon as one of Africa’s premier city marathons and a showcase of Nairobi’s rich running heritage and growing global appeal.

Summary of Past Events


The first edition in 2022 marked the introduction of a new city marathon experience in Nairobi. The race focused on establishing credibility, attracting both elite Kenyan athletes and recreational runners, and showcasing the city’s infrastructure, particularly the Nairobi Expressway corridor.

Despite being a debut event, it successfully positioned itself as a mass participation race, laying the foundation for future growth and brand identity.


Nairobi City Marathon 2022


The second edition in 2023 built on the inaugural success by significantly improving organisation, participation flow, and public engagement. Thousands of runners took part, with increased visibility of both elite and amateur categories.

The event began to gain recognition as a permanent fixture in Nairobi’s sporting calendar, strengthening its reputation as a city-wide celebration of running and fitness culture.


Nairobi City Marathon 2023


By 2024, the marathon had expanded substantially in scale and structure, attracting over 12,000 participants across multiple race categories. It was widely reported as an AIMS-recognised marathon, confirming its compliance with international measurement and standards.


Nairobi City Marathon 2024

This edition marked a turning point:

  • Stronger international participation

  • More structured elite competition

  • Enhanced city branding through themed race experiences

  • Growing reputation as a “world-class city marathon”


The 2025 edition represented a major leap in competitiveness and participation, with reported entries exceeding 15,000 runners.


Nairobi City Marathon 2025

Key developments included:

  • Faster winning times in elite categories

  • Stronger East African elite field dominance

  • Increased corporate sponsorship and prize incentives

  • Continued refinement of race logistics under Golazo Right Here’s management structure


The 2026 edition marked a milestone, attracting a record ~17,000+ participants, the largest in the event’s history.


Nairobi City Marathon 2026

Key highlights:

  • Record participation of around 17,000 runners

  • Strong international athlete presence across multiple continents

  • Expanded race portfolio (42K, 21K, 10K, and fun run categories)

  • Full establishment as a major African city marathon


Our Role

As the official organiser, Golazo Right Here has provided the operational consistency and international expertise behind the Nairobi City Marathon's growth. Through world-class event delivery, race operations, and stakeholder coordination, we have helped build one of Africa's fastest-growing city marathon brands.


Insights from the Seven Years


The inaugural Nairobi City Marathon in 2022 marked the beginning of a new generation of Kenyan city marathons, combining world-class road running with modern urban infrastructure. By utilising the Nairobi Expressway as a race corridor, the event introduced an innovative model that blended sport, city branding, and sports tourism.


The 2023 edition reinforced the Nairobi City Marathon's position as a leading mass-participation race in Kenya. Increased runner numbers and growing community engagement demonstrated the event's emergence as an annual fixture on the country's road running calendar.


The Nairobi City Marathon reached an important milestone in 2024 through alignment with international marathon standards and certification requirements. This strengthened its reputation as a globally recognised road race and enhanced its appeal among elite and recreational runners alike.


As elite performances improved and participation continued to grow, the 2025 edition elevated the Nairobi City Marathon's profile within African road running. Winning times, race results, and increased media attention contributed to its growing international visibility.

The 2026 edition marked a record-breaking year for the Nairobi City Marathon, attracting its largest field of participants to date. This growth reflected the event's evolution into a globally competitive city marathon and a major contributor to sports tourism in Kenya.


Sources & References

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