This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
The 17th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is set to take place on 27th October 2019 at Nyayo Stadium, with over 20,000 elite and fun runners expected to participate.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has deployed more than 200 technical officials to oversee the event, with a focus on ensuring its technical aspects meet international standards.
According to Barnabas Korir, AK Chairman of the Nairobi branch, the event organizers are paying close attention to the technical aspects of the city road race as they bid to have it promoted to the league of the world's elite marathons.
As part of the preparations, the Nairobi Traffic department has released an elaborate road closure and diversion schedule, which will see traffic to and out of the city diverted to alternative roads between 4 am and 2 pm.
The affected roads include sections of Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Upper Hill, and Forest Road, while within the CBD, Kenyatta Avenue, Muindi Mbingu, and sections of Haile Selassie and University Way will also be closed.
Joshua Omukata, Traffic Commissioner, Nairobi County, assured residents that the traffic diversions have been carefully organized to ensure minimal disruption to the flow of traffic, with alternative routes available to critical locations in the city, including hospitals, churches, and airports.
Event organizers have announced a few changes to the route for the six-race categories, largely due to the relocation of the start and finish points back to in and around Nyayo Stadium.
Peter Gitau, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, expressed optimism that the goal of raising Ksh 60 million this year for the Future Makers initiative will be attained, citing increased prize money and heightened interest from elite and fun runners.
