Nairobi’s Southern Bypass will be shut to traffic from late Saturday, 24 October 2026, until early Sunday afternoon, to make way for the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) says the road will be closed between Ole Sereni Interchange and Kikuyu town and reopen at 2pm on Sunday, 25 October. Race organisers give slightly different times, so drivers should plan for the longer window.
By the 254.ke Newsroom. Updated 19 October 2026.
When will the Southern Bypass be closed?
The two published schedules do not match exactly, and the gap is about an hour at each end.
| Source | Closes | Reopens |
|---|---|---|
| KeNHA notice (as reported by Kenyans.co.ke) | Midnight, Saturday 24 October | 2pm, Sunday 25 October |
| Race organisers’ guide | 11pm, Saturday 24 October | 1:30pm, Sunday 25 October |
The organisers also list closures at the Langata Road and Mombasa Road interchanges and at the ICD turning point. Motorists who must use the corridor on Saturday night should assume the earlier closing time and the later reopening.
Which alternative routes should motorists use?
KeNHA has published diversions for the main flows. Traffic marshals and police are to be deployed along the routes.
- Kikuyu to Mombasa Road: Waiyaki Way.
- Kikuyu to Karen: Dagoretti Road.
- Karen to Mombasa Road: Langata Road.
- Dagoretti to Mombasa Road: Waiyaki Way, or Ngong Road via Mbagathi Way.
- Industrial Area to Kikuyu: Mombasa Road and Uhuru Highway, then Waiyaki Way.
- Likoni Road to Mombasa Road: Enterprise Road.
Heavy trucks coming in from Kikuyu are to be routed onto Waiyaki Way.
What time does each race start on 25 October?
The race’s own pages list two sets of start times. The runners’ guide on the main site gives the earlier set below; a separate FAQ page lists times 15 to 20 minutes later. Runners should confirm against the organisers’ latest communication.
| Race | Start (runners’ guide) |
|---|---|
| 21km wheelchair | 5:30am |
| 42km marathon | 5:45am |
| 21km half marathon | 7:05am |
| 10km road race | 8:45am |
| 5km family fun run | 10:00am (rolling start) |
The races assemble on the Southern Bypass near Carnivore. The 10km, 21km, 42km and wheelchair races finish at Uhuru Gardens on Langata Road.
How big is the 2026 Nairobi Marathon?
Standard Chartered says more than 30,000 runners from 102 nationalities have entered, up from 92 nationalities in 2025. Registration is sold out. The standard entry fee was Sh2,500 for every category and the CEO Challenge was Sh20,000.
The organisers advertise Sh2 million each for the men’s and women’s marathon winners. Race proceeds go to the Standard Chartered Foundation’s Futuremakers programme, which has been the event’s cause since 2019. Reports differ on the size of the elite field and the total prize purse, and no elite start list had been published at the time of writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Southern Bypass closed on the morning of the marathon?
Yes. Both KeNHA and the organisers say the closure runs overnight from Saturday 24 October into the afternoon of Sunday 25 October.
Can I still register for the 2026 Nairobi Marathon?
The organisers list registration as sold out. Queries about corporate entries or the CEO Challenge go to registration@nairobimarathon.com or 020 3293780.
Where does the marathon finish?
At Uhuru Gardens on Langata Road for the 10km, half marathon, full marathon and wheelchair races.
Is parking available at the start?
Parking is limited. The organisers recommend public transport or being dropped off close to the start.
For the latest on Kenyan distance runners, see our reports on Eliud Kipchoge’s Melbourne Marathon win and the Kenyans at the Chicago Marathon. The full diversion list is in the Kenyans.co.ke report on KeNHA’s notice.
