The government is planning a new city marathon in Nairobi intended to have the same elite status as big-city marathons in Chicago, London, Boston, and New York.
The race will officially be known as the ‘Uhuru Classic City Marathon’ and the course will include a stretch on the Nairobi Expressway. The Ksh87 Billion expressway cutting through the city is scheduled for completion in March.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed disclosed that they were looking to stage the marathon in May. She confirmed that the project had received cabinet approval.
Amina notably promised that the marathon would feature prizes for athletes comparable to the major pay-outs of big city marathons. Winning one of the elite city marathons can earn you anywhere between Ksh5M to Ksh15M.
More details on the race are to be made public once it is officially unveiled in coming weeks. Amina highlighted inspiration for the race drawn from Kenya’s glorious athletics heritage and its successful marathoners.
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“We have always watched our athletes win is some of the world’s major city marathons but it’s now time we watched it happen here in Nairobi.”
“It has always been our dream to host a major marathon and I want to announce a cabinet memo has gone through and the country will have it’s first ever city marathon,” Amina stated on February 22, 2022.
Currently, the largest city marathon in Kenya is the annual Standard Chartered Nairobi City Marathon. Winners currently receive a cash prize of Ksh1.5 million.
Amina spoke at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi during the official launch and fundraising for the construction of a Multi Indoor Sports facility at the Nairobi International School.
It will include a standard size futsal pitch as well as facilities to host basketball, netball, handball, volleyball, badminton and tennis.
“We shall allow less privileged children from the surrounding schools to use the facility free of charge upon completion,” the school’s director Radhika Lee also disclosed.
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Eldoret city marathon is the highest paying marathon in Africa @3.5m