Nairobi Marathon winners honored as focus shifts to clean sport

Top performers from the 2025 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon were honored on Wednesday at an awards ceremony held at the bank’s headquarters in Nairobi.

Champions in the men’s and women’s full marathon each walked away with Ksh.2 million, while winners in the 21km categories, including wheelchair races, received Ksh.300,000 each.

Beyond the prize money, organizers highlighted the marathon’s growing impact off the track.

Standard Chartered Kenya’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Joyce Kibe, revealed that last year’s event raised Ksh.76 million to support youth and persons with disabilities.

“Last year, they raised Ksh.76 million from the marathon, and we're going to use these proceeds to help the youth and persons with disabilities to learn and improve,” Kibe said.

She also underscored a new financial literacy programme aimed at helping athletes manage their earnings wisely.

“What we want the athletes to do is invest their money wisely, that is our proposition. You see it all over media in terms of how some athletes earn very big money but within some few months, it’s all gone,” she noted.

Kibe further announced that registration for this year’s marathon will open by the end of April, urging participants to sign up early.

“We foresee opening the portal by end of April, so just stay put, just be on the lookout. End of April we commit that the portal will be opened and please register on time, don’t be left behind,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei issued a firm warning on doping, reiterating a zero-tolerance stance.

“Doping is a zero-tolerance issue. Athletics Kenya condemns all forms of cheating that include doping. Let me advise all our athletes to adhere to running clean, and uphold the integrity of the sport,” he said.

Full marathon champion Hellen Chepkorir expressed her delight after receiving her prize, vowing to return and defend her title.

“I am very happy to have finally received my award. I promise to come to defend my title,” she said.

The ceremony not only celebrated athletic excellence but also reinforced the marathon’s role as a platform for community impact, clean sport, and athlete development.