Standard Chartered Bank host the 15th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. The Bank, with the support of event organizers, Athletics Kenya, has built an event that has become internationally renowned and has placed Kenya on the international map. The Marathon is the flagship project for Standard Chartered Bank ‘Seeing is Believing’ community imitative that aims to raise funds for the needy in the community.
2017 event attracted over 22,000 participants from all walks of life.
The objectives of the marathon are to:
1.Raise the profile of Kenya internationally;
2.Help identify and provide opportunity for the local athletic talent to excel;
3.Help boost tourism to Kenya;
4.Create a community event for everyone’s enjoyment; and
5.Raise funds for the needy in the community, that is, our “Seeing is Believing” community initiative.
6.The marathon has achieved all these objectives in good measure. It has put Kenya on the world map as it continues to attract international runners therefore increasing the profile of our nation.
They couldn’t let the moment slip by uncaptured. #StanChartMarathon. pic.twitter.com/HIZfdCtYD2
— Standard Chartered (@StanChartKE) October 28, 2018
Hundreds of people have traveled to Kenya to run the last 10 marathons and after the event have proceeded on holiday to some of Kenya’s tourist attractions.
The marathon has received vast media coverage over the years which have seen the event broadcasted around Africa and other international news channels as well as in our local media.
The Nairobi Marathon has also served as a platform where budding athletes have launched their international careers. Since the launch of the Marathon in 2003 only one winner has successfully defended their title. Every year the marathon produces new winners.
The Nairobi Marathon is now an event for all Kenyans, including corporate organizations that use it as a forum for team building.
This year, Standard Chartered extended its sponsorship for the marathon for another five years. With a creatively modeled event ,together with Athletics Kenya,the Nairobi Marathon is now into different categories to suit all. From the grueling full and half marathon that call for extreme courage and endurance, to the 10km, the wheelchair race and the family fun run, the Nairobi marathon has something for everyone.
AK Nairobi branch boss Barnabas Korir said the event organizers are paying extra attention to the technical aspects of the city road race as they bid to have it promoted to the league of the world’s elite marathons.
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon will start at the Railway Club with more than 20, 000 elite and fun runners expected to take part.
#StanChartMarathon , 10KM race participants off to a great start. ? pic.twitter.com/UtFsYijkwu
— Standard Chartered (@StanChartKE) October 28, 2018
And in line with the international safety provisions, the Nairobi Traffic department on Wednesday released an elaborate road closure diversions schedule that will see traffic to and out of the city diverted to alternative roads between 4am and 2pm.
The affected roads include sections of Mombasa road, Uhuru Highway, Upper Hill and Forest road while within the CBD, Kenyatta Avenue, Muindi Mbingu and sections of Haile Selasie and University Way will also be closed.
“We do not expect a major disruption in the flow of traffic. We have carefully organized traffic diversions to ensure that Nairobi county residents have alternative routes to critical locations in the city including hospitals, churches and airports,” Deputy Traffic Commandant, Nairobi County, Geoffrey Njogu, announced.
NAIROBI STANCHAT MARATHON:TRAFFIC OFFICER REQUEST FOR CO-OPERATION:
Nairobi County Traffic Police Officer Geoffrey Njogu has requested residents of Nairobi to co-operate with traffic police during the StanChart Marathon on Sunday 28 /10 /18. pic.twitter.com/zYRjQG5ZRc— Ministry Of Sports, Culture And Heritage (@moscakenya) October 26, 2018
The event organizers have declared a few changes to the route for the six race categories largely due to relocation of the start and finish points which have been moved to Uhuru Park.
Speaking during a press briefing, Peter Gitau, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee expressed optimism that the goal of raising Ksh60 million this year for the Seeing is Believing initiative will be attained.
“This year, we have noticed heightened interest from the elite and fun runners. So far, we have registered close to 18,000 participants and we are optimistic of reaching our target. We have a good mix of elite and budding athletes plus an unprecedented entry of past winners all eyeing the Kes 8million prize purse,” Gitau said.