Nairobi Expressway, Waiyaki Way among major roads to close from Saturday for city marathon

Nairobi will experience major road closures this weekend to accommodate the fourth edition of the Nairobi City Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, July 6.

With over 15,000 runners expected to participate, traffic disruptions will begin at 10 pm on Saturday, July 5, and continue until 2 pm on Sunday.

According to a notice issued by organisers, the closure will ensure the safety of participants and the smooth running of the race, with some routes reopening later in the afternoon.

The Nairobi Expressway, a key corridor linking James Gichuru to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), will be closed in both directions from 10 pm Saturday until 3 pm Sunday. Travellers heading to the airport have been advised to use alternative routes or adjust their schedules.

From midnight on Sunday, inner lanes along Waiyaki Way, between Musa Gitau Road and the Expressway entrance, will remain closed until 10 am.

The Mombasa Road crossing, along with Southern Bypass and Likoni Road, will be inaccessible from midnight to 11 am, with all roundabouts and town-bound entries sealed off.

Uhuru Highway

Uhuru Highway, which cuts through the heart of the city, will also be closed from midnight to 2 pm, affecting the stretch from the Southern Bypass to Langata Roundabout, and Bunyala Roundabout to Kenyatta Avenue.

Meanwhile, Kenyatta Avenue, from Panafric Hotel to Uhuru Highway, will be shut from midnight until 4 pm on Sunday.

Motorists have been urged to study the closure map provided and plan alternative routes. Roads that will remain open include Thika Road, Raila Odinga Road, Lusaka Road, Langata Road and the Southern Bypass.

However, critical junctions such as University Way, Haile Selassie Avenue, Bunyala Road, Capital Centre, Popo Road, and Kapiti Road will remain closed during the event.

The marathon will start and end at Uhuru Park, a new move from previous years where Nyayo Stadium served as the start and finish line.

Competitions Director Kennedy Tanui confirmed the changes during the official launch. He noted that the race had seen a sharp increase in participation, growing from 13,000 runners last year to over 15,000 this year.

“We expect the number to hit 16,000 by race day,” he said.

Top running event

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• Waiyaki Way among major roads to close from Saturday for city marathon

He said the event’s theme this year is “I Love Nairobi”, and noted that the race has now become one of the continent’s top running events.

“All slots in the 42km, 21km, and 10km races have been taken, and only 500 places remain in the 4km family fun run,” he said.

Dubbed “the only marathon run in the sky,” the Nairobi City Marathon is unique for being held entirely on the elevated Nairobi Expressway, offering runners a scenic view of the capital.

The event now boasts the highest prize money for a marathon in Africa, with winners of the full marathon set to receive Sh3.5 million each.

Participants from 75 countries have confirmed attendance. China tops the list with 375 runners, followed by India with 103, and others from Britain, Ethiopia, Uganda and Japan.

Notable athletes set to compete include Paul Lonyangata, a two-time Paris Marathon winner, alongside Edward Cheserek, Flomena Cheyech, Viola Chepngeno, and Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei.

World Athletics standards

Technical Director Ibrahim Hussein confirmed that the marathon route meets World Athletics standards. All four races, 42km, 21km, 10km, and 4km, will start and end at Uhuru Park to ensure logistical ease and a better experience for spectators.

The route will take runners past major city landmarks. Starting at Uhuru Park near the Intercontinental Hotel and Parliament, it proceeds along Uhuru Highway to Museum Hill, merges onto the Nairobi Expressway, heads west past James Gichuru, Red Hill, and Quickmart, before making a U-turn at Westlands Toll Station towards the JKIA exit.

From there, runners will make another U-turn and proceed along a dedicated marathon stretch, exiting at Haile Selassie Avenue, passing Central Park, and finishing along Processional Way.

Hydration stations

Eight hydration stations will be set up every five kilometres along the route.

World Athletics Vice President and Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei described the event as a celebration of Kenya’s long-standing excellence in distance running.

“Kenya is known globally for its great marathon runners. We currently hold both the men’s and women’s world records. Ruth Chepngetich and the late Kelvin Kiptum are our latest icons, building on a legacy created by legends like Eliud Kipchoge,” Tuwei said.

“Most of our athletes wake up as early as 3 am and cover up to 60 kilometres before the rest of the country is even awake. Their sacrifice deserves our utmost respect.”

Tuwei also reiterated that the goal is to elevate the event to match the stature of the World Marathon Majors, positioning Nairobi as a global destination for elite road races.

“This marathon is not just a sporting event—it’s a source of civic pride. We want to make Nairobi a global reference point in road racing,” he said.

The marathon also supports environmental initiatives, with the ongoing “I Love Nairobi” campaign aiming to rehabilitate spaces like Nairobi Dam and promote a cleaner city. All runners will receive themed T-shirts.

Residents have been encouraged to come out in large numbers to cheer the runners, support the spirit of competition, and celebrate Nairobi’s resilience and unity.