Roads to be closed for the Nairobi Marathon tomorrow

GEOFFREY MBUTHIA ENTERTAINMENT SUB-EDITOR

Lifestyle

07 May 2022

• The Nairobi Marathon will be run majorly on the newly-constructed Nairobi Expressway.

• Amina believes the marathon will enhance Kenya's global ranking as a top sporting destination.

• With a prize money of Ksh6 million, it is the biggest marathon in Africa.

The inaugural Nairobi City Marathon will take place tomorrow at the newly-constructed Nairobi Expressway.

The roads one should avoid tomorrow are below:

(1). Haile Selassie Ave

(2). Moi Ave

(3). City Hall Way

(4). Taifa Rd

(5). Parliament Rd

(6). Mama Ngina street

(7). Kimathi street

(8). Kenyatta Avenue

(9). Koinange Street

(10). Monrovia street

(11). Muindi Mbingu street

(12). University way

(13). Simba street

(14). Globe Roundabout

(15). Kipande Rd

(16). Museum hill Rd (Between Ojijo Rd & roundabout)

(17). Bunyala Rd cc

(18). Masaba rd.

The full marathon course starts at Nyayo Stadium and proceeds to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before moving to the city centre, which will be the spectator stage, to ABC Place in Westlands then back to Nyayo Stadium for the finish.

The organisers have prepared a place for the fans to watch 9km of the race which will be run outside the Express Highway.

The half marathon will also begin at the Nyayo Stadium, on to Ole Sereni along Mombasa Road, then to ABC Place before culminating at Nyayo.

It will be run entirely on the Nairobi Expressway.

The winner of the half marathon will run away with Ksh 2.5 million (US$2,500) and Ksh1.5 million (US$1,500) for the winner in the 10km race.

The event’s technical director, Ibrahim Hussein, said the course has been certified and accredited by the Association International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and thus any world record will be approved by World Athletics.

Meanwhile, Sports CS Amina Mohamed said that 8000 runners had signed up across four race categories.

"I am pleased to take this opportunity to appreciate you for registering to run in the Nairobi City Marathon, the Uhuru Classic. One of the Ministry of Sports' mandate is to continue spearheading the expansion of the sports industry through various programmes and projects," Amina said.

Amina further said the race stands out among other city marathons due to its unique course and potential to market Kenya as a tourism destination.

“The race will be the first in the world to be run on an Express Highway and will also showcase the beauty of the scenery of Nairobi and market Kenya as a tourism destination,” she said.