Nairobi Marathon: Southern Bypass set for temporary close

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced a temporary close of the Nairobi Southern Bypass ahead of the 2023 edition of the Standard Chartered Marathon.

The road, according to KeNHA will be closed from the Ole Sereni interchange to Kikuyu town, with effect from Saturday, October 28, 2023, at midnight to Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm.

"KeNHA wishes to notify the public of a temporary closure of Nairobi Southern Bypass from Ole Sereni interchange to Kikiyu town," said the authority in a statement.

As such, the authority advised motorists to use Mombasa Road (A8) from Ole Sereni Interchange through Uhuru Highway, and vice versa as the alternative route.

In the meantime, Safarilink Air has directed its passengers expected to travel on Sunday morning to arrive at the Wilson Airport 1 hour to the normal time, due to the scheduled close of the Nairobi Bypass.

"Therefore; we request that passengers on our morning flights depart from their respective residents an hour earlier than normal to make it to Wilson Airport in time allowing some extra time for the delays anticipated due to the heavy traffic and closure of roads," the Airlines said in a statement seen by Nairobi Review.

The 42km Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon will start at 6am on Sunday.

21km half Marathon and Corporate run is among the other races on the rosta. It will be the 20th edition of the race.

Registration ended on October 22, with thousands of athletes expected to be in the running.

The Nairobi Marathon is a key platform to nurture upcoming Kenyan athletes and celebrates Kenya as the home of long-distance international athletes.

It is Kenya’s only marathon that has the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) recognitions.