Millions on offer in the inaugural edition of the Uhuru Classic Nairobi Marathon

The winners of the inaugural Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon set for May 8 will pocket six million, the organizers have announced.

The marathon set to be held on the Nairobi ExpressWay and other sections of the roads within the city will come a day after the conclusion of the third edition of the Kip Keino Classic set for Kasarani Stadium.

The prize money at stake for winners of either category make the event the grandest in the continent and hardly hours after the official unveiling, the number of participants who have enrolled online is already swelling.

Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei said the marathon has the potential to rival with the best in the world.

“With a prize money of $60,000 for winners of full marathon, $2,500 for half marathon and $1,500 for 10km, this is undoubtedly the biggest road race in the continent and one with a potential of competing against the World Marathon Majors races,” he said.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed who formally launched the event rallied Kenyans to register in large numbers.

“I invite all of us to run on that day even if for only 1km. No one will punish you for stopping along the way. Even if you will not run, just come and cheer our athletes,” she said.

Further, Amina said the marathon is yet another indicator of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment in development of sports in the country.

“This will be an international marathon that will be held on a legacy project of his excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta. It is a perfect tribute to his infrastructural development legacy and contribution to sports. The Nairobi City marathon will be held for the next 10 years and we hope it will continue to commemorate the tremendous milestones achieved by the president in his tenure,” she noted.

Apart from the full marathon, there will be an additional three subsidiary races; the half marathon, 10km and 5km races.