The 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is expected to take place this weekend, on Sunday, 25 October 2026, disrupting traffic flow on major roads within Nairobi.
According to Joseph Chirchir, Nairobi County Traffic Commander, there will be about 30,000 participants, among whom about 1,000 foreigners are expected to take part in the annual race.
To ensure the safety of runners and reduce any disruption, the police have implemented traffic diversions and deployed officers and marshals. The race has prompted the closure of the Southern Bypass, with various diversions introduced.
Motorists travelling from Mombasa: Vehicles approaching Nairobi from Mombasa will be diverted at Ole Sereni and directed towards the Central Business District (CBD).
Motorists travelling from the Inland Container Depot (ICD): Drivers from the ICD will use Mombasa Road before being redirected towards the CBD and Waiyaki Way, depending on their destinations.
Motorists travelling from western Kenya via the Kikuyu Bypass: Drivers will be redirected to James Gichuru Road, from where they can proceed towards the CBD and access Mombasa Road.
Motorists travelling from Lang’ata: Drivers from Lang’ata will not be allowed to join the Southern Bypass. Instead, they will use alternative routes through the CBD to reach their destinations.
Motorists travelling from Karen: Drivers from Karen will also be barred from joining the Southern Bypass. They will be redirected through Dagoretti and Ngong Road.
Chirchir said that the diversions play a key role in maintaining a secure environment for the Standard Chartered Marathon runners, as large numbers of participants are expected on the road. Also, the police, traffic marshals, and traffic signals will be involved in guiding motorists and participants.
The Nairobi traffic commander urged the marathon organisers to be on time, ensuring that they do not go beyond the schedule so that the authorities can reopen the affected road stretches.
Participants would be expected to stick to their designated start times and follow the organisers’ instructions. This means that those who join the race outside their allocated start times wouldn’t be allowed to continue wandering along the road beyond the permitted time, which is 2 p.m.
The roads are expected to be opened by 2 p.m., following the traffic management plan. Motorists are urged to plan their journeys in advance, follow police instructions, and use the designated alternative routes as stated above. This will minimise disruption during the temporary closure.
