Peter Mwangi and Fridah Ndida Claim Victory in 21km Warm-Up Race for Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2025
more than 18,000 participants have registered ahead of the October 10 deadline, including over 60 elite athletes across the 42km full marathon,
The 22nd edition of the marathon is set for October 26, 2025, at Uhuru Gardens, with over 30,000 runners expected.
By Edmon Kipngeno
Peter Mwangi and Fridah Ndida stole the spotlight at the 21km warm-up race for the 22nd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, staged at Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi. The event drew more than 1,500 participants.
Mwangi clocked 65 minutes to take the men’s title, while Ndida sealed the women’s crown in 77 minutes.
After his win, Mwangi said the result was a major boost to his preparations for next month’s main marathon.
“Winning today has given me confidence as I prepare for the October race. The course was competitive, and I’m pleased with my performance. I believe this momentum will carry me into the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, where I aim for an even stronger result,” Mwangi noted.
The 22nd edition of the marathon is set for October 26, 2025, at Uhuru Gardens, with over 30,000 runners expected.
Already, more than 18,000 participants have registered ahead of the October 10 deadline, including over 60 elite athletes across the 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km race, and 21km wheelchair race.
Confirmed names include Lazarus Too, winner of this year’s Orange Phikwe National Marathon; Donald Sambu, 2021 MTN Kampala Marathon champion; Uganda’s Stephen Mugabe, a TCS New York Marathon veteran; and Cecilia Alonyo.
David Mwindi, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, praised the turnout.
“The strong participation from both runners and sponsors reflects the growing excitement around this year’s marathon. It’s inspiring to see how individuals and corporates are supporting the event—not just as a sporting occasion, but as a platform to empower communities through initiatives like Futuremakers.”
This year, organisers aim to raise KES 70 million for Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the bank’s global programme focused on education, employability, and entrepreneurship for young people, especially women and persons with disabilities.
Last year’s marathon raised KES 48 million, which went directly into Futuremakers projects.
In the build-up to October 26, the Parklands race will be followed by another warm-up run at Karura Forest, a medical camp in Kibera, and a satellite run in Mombasa.
To enhance race-day experience, organisers have announced several improvements:
A dedicated finish channel for elite runners in the 42km race.
Separate finish points inside Uhuru Gardens for the 21km and 10km races to ease congestion.
A 30% expansion of the runner walk-off area for smoother flow and safety.
More personnel in medal and hydration teams.
A brand-new photo-finish zone, allowing runners to capture quality images without disrupting movement.
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