Joyce Kibe (L), Peter Gitau and Police Superintendent Boniface Otieno during a Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon press briefing (TEDDY MULEI)
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has raised the prize money for the second-place finishers in the 42km race from Sh750,000 to Sh1 million ahead of its 21st edition on Sunday.
The total prize pool has swelled to Sh12.9m, up from Sh10.6m last year in a move organisers hope will boost future participation.
“We aim to attract more athletes with this increase,” Peter Gitau, organising committee chairman said during a media briefing. “We’ve made adjustments in prize money not only in the 42km race but also in the 21km.”
The top prize for the men’s and women’s 42km champions remains unchanged from last year’s Sh2m, with third-place earning Sh500,000.
The revised prize structure for the 21km race will award Sh300,000 to the winners, Sh200,000 to second place and Sh150,000 to third place.
Last year, the 21km second-place finishers received Sh150,000 and the third place earned Sh100,000. Gitau announced record participation with 25,000 runners registered—up from 23,000 last year
“We have registered 25,000 participants which is our highest number of participation to date,” Gitau added.
They have raised Sh172m ahead of this year’s edition. “We have 40 sponsors and partners who have come on board for the marathon. We have been able to raise Sh172m in cash and in-kind to run the marathon. We are thankful for all the sponsors,” he said.
The 21km wheelchair race kicks off the events at 5:45 am followed by the 42km race at 6 am, the 21km at 7:20 a.m, the 10km at 8:45 a.m and the 5km fun run at 10 am.
All races will start at the Southern Bypass and finish at Uhuru Gardens along Lang’ata Road, except for the 5km, which will conclude at the Southern Bypass.
Nairobi County Police Superintendent Boniface Otieno detailed traffic management measures with the Southern Bypass and surrounding roads set to close from 11 pm on Saturday until 1 pm on Sunday.
“We will have alternative
routes for motorists and pedestrians,” Otieno noted.