From Expressway Speed to Final Sprint Drama: Kipkemboi and Kemuma Shine at Nairobi City Marathon

By Robert Kibet

A landmark 5th edition defined by razor-thin margins, comeback stories, and athletes shaped by Kenya’s high-altitude training hubs

The 5th edition of the Nairobi City Marathon delivered more than fast times on a city course that swept runners along the Nairobi Expressway and through the capital’s skyline. It produced human stories of resilience, recovery, and redemption, as Enock Kipkemboi and Joy Kemuma emerged winners of tightly contested elite races decided by strategy as much as speed.

Kipkemboi turns failure into breakthrough victory

The men’s 42km unfolded into a tactical chess match, with a large lead pack staying intact deep into the race before breaking apart in the final kilometres. In the end, Kipkemboi claimed victory in 2:09:33, edging a sprint finish that saw the top three separated by just 22 seconds.

But behind the result was a deeper story of recovery.

Kipkemboi revealed that his Nairobi triumph came months after a painful DNF at the Eldoret City Marathon, where a fall ended his race at just 4km.

“The race was not easy. This race today has helped, and it will change my life,” he said. “I raced at the Eldoret City Marathon, but I did not manage to finish after falling at 4km. I train in Iten. After Eldoret failure, I went back to the drawing board.”

Training in Iten, Kipkemboi rebuilt his preparation with patience and precision, returning to competition with renewed focus on strength and race discipline. His decisive moment came around 27km when he tested the field, gradually stretching the leading group before holding firm into the final sprint.

Robert Kiprop Kwambai of Kaptagat pushed him all the way to the line, finishing second in 2:09:51, while Shadrack Kenduiywo, who trains in Longonot under the Run2gether programme, completed the podium in 2:09:55.

Expressway battle defines men’s podium drama

Kwambai and Kenduiywo stayed locked in the leading group through all key checkpoints, with the race still tightly packed at 29km in 1:29:08. The final kilometres, however, turned into a test of timing and finishing speed.

Kipkemboi held his composure when it mattered most.

“At 27km, I attempted to break away, and looking back, I did not see much challenge,” he said.

The closing stretch into Uhuru Park confirmed his strength, as he edged out two equally determined rivals in a sprint finish that reflected the competitive depth of Kenya’s road running scene.

Kemuma controls race with patience and precision

In the women’s 42km, Joy Kemuma delivered a composed and methodical performance to win in 2:27:43, building her race gradually before taking control in the final stages.

Kemuma passed 9.8km in 33:43, 17.2km in 56:14, and 29km in 1:37:42, remaining patient through the Expressway section before asserting herself when the race entered its decisive phase.

Her victory was not just about pacing, but about discipline.

Chepkoech: From 14th place to podium breakthrough

Behind Kemuma, Jacinta Chepkoech produced one of the standout improvements of the day, finishing second in 2:30:48 after a year of targeted preparation in Kapsabet.

“The race was not easy. I had concentrated in enough preparation where I train in Kapsabet,” she said. “I was 14th last year at the Nairobi City Marathon. I went back and worked on my weakness, which was on the hilly part.”

Her steady progression through all checkpoints reflected that improvement, as she remained in contention throughout before securing a career-defining podium finish.

Jepleting’s comeback from injury completes women’s podium

Third place went to Nancy Jepleting, who crossed the line in 2:31:07 after rebuilding her season from an injury setback.

“I had prepared well for this race coming from an injury. I started my preparation from March this year,” she said.

Despite a shortened training cycle, Jepleting maintained contact with the leaders through 29km before settling into third, completing a podium shaped by resilience and return-to-form narratives.

A race defined by depth, discipline, and human stories

Beyond the podiums, the Nairobi City Marathon reinforced its reputation as a fast yet tactical urban marathon. The Expressway sections produced sustained pacing, but the final kilometres demanded timing, courage, and composure.

From Kipkemboi’s comeback victory to Kemuma’s controlled execution, and from Chepkoech’s breakthrough to Jepleting’s recovery journey, the race showcased not only athletic performance but the human stories behind elite competition, cementing Nairobi’s place as one of Africa’s most compelling city marathon stages.