Nairobi motorists and thousands of runners have been urged to prepare for traffic disruptions ahead of the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, with road closures scheduled to begin late Saturday night and several races starting early Sunday morning.
The 23rd edition of the annual event will take place on Sunday, October 25, with the Nairobi Traffic Police Department announcing that affected roads will be closed from 11pm on Saturday, October 24, until 1:30pm on Sunday.
The marathon will feature seven categories, including the 42km Full Marathon, 21km Half Marathon, 21km Wheelchair Race, 10km Road Race, 5km Family Fun Run, CEO Challenge and Corporate Challenge.
According to a press release on the road-closure issued on Thursday, October 22 and obtained by Vantage Ke, the races will use routes along the Southern Bypass, with sections of Lang'ata Road and Ngong Road forming part of the longer courses.
Nairobi Marathon 2026 Race Schedule
Participants have been advised to arrive early and assemble according to their respective categories.
The race-day schedule contained in the road-closure notice is as follows:
21km Wheelchair Race: Arrival at 5am, assembly at 5:25am and start at 5:45am.
42km Full Marathon: Arrival at 5am, assembly at 5:50am and start at 6am.
21km Half Marathon: Arrival at 6:30am, assembly at 7am and start at 7:20am.
10km Road Race: Arrival at 8am, assembly at 8:40am and start at 9am.
5km Family Fun Run: Arrival at 9am, assembly at 9:40am and start at 10am.
The organisers have encouraged participants to familiarise themselves with the schedule and plan their journeys to avoid arriving late.
However, the official marathon website currently lists different start times for several categories and identifies the assembly point as outside Carnivore along the Southern Bypass Road. Participants should confirm the latest instructions with organisers before travelling.
Routes for the Marathon Races
The 42km Full Marathon and 21km Half Marathon will cover sections of the Southern Bypass, Lang'ata Road and Ngong Road, passing near Nairobi National Park before looping back towards the finish.
The 10km Road Race will follow the Southern Bypass, including a crossover section near Nairobi National Park and NHC Lang'ata, before returning towards the finish.
Meanwhile, participants in the 5km Family Fun Run will run along the Southern Bypass before crossing towards Lang'ata approximately 2.1km from the start and crossing back to complete the course.
The wheelchair race will also cover 21km, while the CEO and Corporate Challenges will provide additional categories for participants.
The event will feature spectator zones, misting stations, mobile medical units, hydration points, nutrition and electrolyte supplies, professional pacing teams and cheering squads.
David Mwindi, Chairperson of the Marathon Local Organising Committee, said preparations had been made to improve the experience for runners and spectators.
“We have put measures in place to improve the race-day experience for runners and spectators while supporting the safe movement of people around the course. We encourage participants and motorists to familiarise themselves with the race schedule and road closure notice so they can plan ahead,” Mwindi said.
Nairobi Roads to Be Affected
The closures will affect sections of the Southern Bypass and its interchanges with Dagoretti Road, Ngong Road, Lang'ata Road and Mombasa Road. Motorists travelling between Kikuyu, Karen, Dagoretti, Lang'ata Road and Mombasa Road have been advised to use alternative routes.
Drivers travelling from Karen Shopping Centre to Kikuyu should use Dagoretti Road, while those heading from Karen to Mombasa Road should use Lang'ata Road.
Motorists travelling from Lang'ata Road near Galleria Mall to Kikuyu should use Dagoretti Road via Lang'ata Road. Those heading towards Mombasa Road should use Uhuru Highway through Lang'ata Road.
Vehicles travelling from the Inland Container Depot to Kikuyu should use Waiyaki Way via Mombasa Road or Uhuru Highway. Motorists travelling from Mombasa Road to Emara Ole Sereni should access the area through Nextgen Mall, while those using Likoni Road to reach Mombasa Road should take Enterprise Road.
Drivers travelling from Kikuyu to Mombasa Road via Dagoretti have been advised to use Waiyaki Way. Those coming from Lenana Road along Ngong Road and heading to Kikuyu should use Waiyaki Way via Naivasha Road or James Gichuru Road.
Trailers and lorries travelling towards Mombasa Road via the Southern Bypass should also use Waiyaki Way.
Nairobi Traffic Commandant Joseph Chirchir urged motorists to plan ahead and follow police instructions.
“We have worked with the marathon organisers to plan traffic diversions that will help minimise disruption and keep road users safe during the event. We urge motorists to plan their journeys in advance, use the designated alternative routes and comply with instructions from traffic officers,” Chirchir said.
The marathon's official website identifies the event as Kenya's flagship road race. Media reports have also indicated that approximately 30,000 participants, including international runners, are expected to take part in this year's edition.
Motorists have been encouraged to allow extra travel time, follow diversion signs and cooperate with traffic officers as Nairobi hosts the sporting event.
