Nairobi police have outlined an extensive traffic management plan for the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, with approximately 30,000 participants expected to take part on Sunday, October 25.
Nairobi County Traffic Commandant Joseph Chirchir said the deployment of police officers and traffic marshals would help manage the movement of vehicles and protect runners, including the estimated 1,000 international participants expected at the event.
“We have about 30,000 participants, 1,000 of them being foreigners. Due to this, we will temporarily close the Southern Bypass and we will make several diversions,” Chirchir said.
The traffic arrangements will affect motorists travelling through Ole Sereni, Mombasa Road, Lang’ata, Karen and Kikuyu, as authorities redirect vehicles away from sections affected by the race.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that the Southern Bypass section between Ole Sereni Interchange and Kikuyu Town will be closed from midnight on Saturday, October 24, until 2pm on Sunday, October 25.
Motorists travelling from Mombasa towards Nairobi will be diverted at Ole Sereni Interchange towards the Central Business District (CBD), while those approaching from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) will use Mombasa Road to access the city centre.
Drivers approaching from Western Kenya through the Kikuyu Bypass will be redirected to James Gichuru Road. Motorists travelling from Lang’ata will use Lang’ata Road, while those coming from Karen will be directed through Dagoretti and Ngong roads.
Additional diversions will apply to motorists travelling between Karen, Kikuyu and Mombasa Road. Drivers heading from Karen Shopping Centre towards Kikuyu should use Dagoretti Road, while those travelling towards Mombasa Road should use Lang’ata Road.
Motorists approaching from Lang’ata Road near Galleria Mall and heading towards Kikuyu will also use Dagoretti Road. Those travelling towards Mombasa Road should use Uhuru Highway.
Vehicles travelling from Mombasa Road to Emara Ole Sereni should access the area through Nextgen Mall, while motorists moving from Likoni Road to Mombasa Road should use Enterprise Road. Drivers travelling from the ICD towards Kikuyu have been advised to use Waiyaki Way through Mombasa Road or Uhuru Highway.
Chirchir urged marathon organisers to ensure the race starts on time to limit disruption and allow traffic to return to normal as early as possible.
“We are urging the participants to organise to start the race on time so that by 12 noon we will be able to start opening the roads,” he said.
He added that the affected roads were expected to reopen by 2pm, subject to traffic management arrangements.
David Mwindi, chairperson of the Marathon Local Organising Committee, said preparations had been underway for nine months and were ahead of schedule. He added that medical teams had been put in place to respond to emergencies during the event.
“We have been preparing for the past nine months, and we are ahead of schedule. We learned from last year, and we have a medical team in place,” Mwindi said.
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon features a flagship 42-kilometre race alongside shorter distances for different categories of participants. The event brings together competitive athletes, recreational runners and corporate teams, requiring coordination between organisers, security agencies and transport authorities.
The traffic plan is intended to help runners move safely along the course while reducing disruption for other road users. Police have urged motorists to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travel time and follow instructions from officers and traffic marshals deployed along the affected routes.
Drivers travelling through southern Nairobi and connecting roads towards Kikuyu should confirm their routes before setting off on Sunday, particularly if their journeys normally involve the Southern Bypass.
