Titleholders out as 20000 set for Stanchart marathon

The 14th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon will witness the crowning of new champions on Sunday after the event organizers confirmed defending champions for both 42km and 21km races failed to register their participation for the annual showpiece.

Ultimate distance race title holders Joshua Kipkoror, Elizabeth Chepkanan and their 21km counterparts, Patrick Kipngeno and Purity Jebichii, will not defend their honors at the event that has so far attracted 20,000 participants and 700 elite athletes all be eyeing top podium places.

Nairobi County Traffic Commandant, Leonard Katana, has announced closure and diversions on major roads in the city with elaborate plan to manage flow of traffic in the capital is set to start at 11pm on Saturday.

The race which is sanctioned by the IAAF will use the same route and same races, with the full marathon ran on the opposite direction to normal everyday traffic and to weed out race cheats.

“The reason why it’s the same route is because the race was credited by the IAAF up to 2019. The routes were officially measured and sanctioned in 2015 and if we do not alter any of them then the sanction is valid,” race director, Michael Hughes explained.

The 21km wheelchair race will be flagged of first at 6:50am followed by the 42KM race at 7:00am. The half marathon will follow at 7:20am while the 10KM runners will set off at 8:00am.

The 5Km family run will be the last event to be flagged off at 9:00am.

On Saturday night, motorists plying Bunyala roads will be affected as it will be closed from 11pm to Sunday at 1pm to allow organizers do their final preparations while other designated marathon routes will be closed from 4AM to 1PM.

“The most affected routes for this race include Mombasa Road, Uhuru High Way, Museum Road and Forest Road. Kenyatta Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue and University Way will remain closed until 11:30am.  Those are many areas where the runners are expected to use. Traffic will be re-routed to industrial areas, Jogoo Road, Landhies Road, Globe Cinema Rundabout,  James Gichuru and Mbagathi way,” Katana stated.

Security has been beefed up at the venue with various screening points by the National Youth Service (NYS) officers.