Abraham Kiptum, Mercy Rotich pocket Sh2 million each after winning 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon

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Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon set for record-breaking 2026 edition with runners from 102 countries

Listen The two athletes headlined the annual road-running event, which brought together competitors across several race categories, with organisers setting aside Sh12.4 million in total prize money.

Abraham Kiptum and Mercy Kandie Rotich emerged as the biggest winners at the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, claiming the men’s and women’s 42-kilometre titles and earning Sh 2 million each.

The two athletes headlined the annual road-running event, which brought together competitors across several race categories, with organisers setting aside Sh12.4 million in total prize money.

For Kiptum, the victory marked another important step in his return to competitive athletics after a difficult period in his career. The 37-year-old from Nandi County has been working to re-establish himself among the leading distance runners since returning to competition in 2024.

Kiptum previously made his mark on the international athletics circuit, finishing third at the Amsterdam Marathon in 2017 before winning the Daegu Marathon in South Korea the following year.

He also secured victory at the Valencia Half Marathon in 2018, although the result was later annulled following an anti-doping case.

His career was interrupted in 2019 when the Athletics Integrity Unit imposed a four-year suspension over an Athlete Biological Passport violation. Since completing the ban, he has gradually rebuilt his competitive record, including victories at the Tenwek Hospital Half Marathon in 2024 and the CRDB Bank Marathon in Dar es Salaam in 2025, according to published reports.

His latest triumph in Nairobi adds another notable achievement to that comeback.

In the women's race, Mercy Kandie Rotich secured the top position despite struggling during the early stages of the marathon.

Speaking after the race, Rotich said the opening 15 kilometres had been particularly demanding before she began to feel stronger as the race progressed.

She expressed gratitude for the victory, saying she had not expected to finish first but had hoped to secure a place among the leading runners.

The athlete, who trains in Iten, said she would continue preparing for future competitions, with ambitions of achieving more victories in the coming year.

Paris Gerono finished second in the women's contest, while Ruth Wakabu took third place.

The marathon's prize structure rewarded athletes in several distances, extending opportunities beyond the elite full-marathon competitors.

The men's and women's 42km champions each earned Sh2 million, while runners-up in the full marathon were due to receive Sh1 million apiece. Third-place finishers were allocated Sh500,000 each.

Winners of the 21km half marathon and wheelchair races were set to receive Sh300,000, while the top finishers in the 10km road race were eligible for Sh200,000.

The event also featured shorter-distance participation options, including a 5km family run, allowing recreational runners to join the competition.

The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon remains one of Kenya's prominent mass-participation sporting events, bringing together elite athletes, fitness enthusiasts and corporate teams.

Beyond the competition, the annual event supports social-impact initiatives linked to education, employability and entrepreneurship, according to organisers.

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