Quiet Determination, Loud Finish: Benson Tunyo Wins Nairobi City Marathon

By Robert Kibet

Nairobi, July 6, 2025 – With the morning mist having subsided over Uhuru Park, Benson Tunyo Murkomen cut a quiet, focused figure on the start line — no grand gestures, no theatrics — just a man on a mission. Two hours and eight minutes later, that same man raised his arms in triumph, breaking the tape at the third edition of the Nairobi City Marathon in 2:08:36, his face beaming with quiet pride.

A KipRUN Management athlete, Tunyo is not new to the marathon scene, but this victory, on home soil and under the theme “I Love Nairobi,” marked a new chapter in his rising story. It was sweet redemption for the 2023 edition, where he had finished a distant 8th, and a reaffirmation of form after placing 12th at this year’s Eldoret City Marathon, where a shoe mishap derailed his podium hopes.

There was nothing errant this time

Starting and finishing at the revamped Uhuru Park, Tunyo timed his charge with precision. At the halfway point, he was still tucked behind the leaders, clocking 58:25 at 20km. But by 31km, he had flipped the script.

“From 21km I was behind, but the body started to respond,” said Tunyo. “At 31km, I controlled the race and moved on. Marathon starts at 35km going forward, and I was keen on my competitor.”

With his family watching back in Elgeyo Marakwet — including his one-year-old child — Tunyo pulled away as the course re-entered the city center. As the race climbed from Haile Selassie Avenue into the finish chute inside Uhuru Park, his stride was strong, measured, unstoppable.

His win was not just about pace — it was about patience, power, and planning. Having sharpened his legs with a second-place finish at the Kapsowar Half Marathon, Tunyo now looks ahead to possibly Valencia, awaiting confirmation from his management.

Limo and Kangogo Push the Podium Pace

Close on Tunyo’s heels, Justus Limo gave a valiant chase, clocking 2:08:42. With early splits of 37:29 at 10km and 58:01 at 20km, Limo ran a consistent race and kept pressure on the leaders until the final stretch.

“At first, I thought he would burn out, so I held back and maintained my own pace in the final kilometers. But when I saw he wasn’t relenting, I had no choice but to fight hard for second place,” said Limo.

Third-placed Albert Kangogo, a familiar name on the road racing circuit, brought his experience to bear with a time of 2:09:06. He held off a determined Emmanuel Naibei (2:09:09) and Abraham Biwott (2:09:29), both of whom remained glued to the chase pack throughout.

Early pace-setter Edwin Kipruto passed the halfway mark fastest of all — in 57:58 — but couldn’t sustain the tempo, settling for sixth place in 2:09:35.

City, Course, and Crowds Elevate the Show

Runners were greeted by ideal racing weather: light cloud cover, cool breeze, and temperatures hovering at 14°C. The course stretched from Uhuru Park down to the bustling lanes of the Nairobi Expressway, offering both sweeping views and tactical challenges — long flats, false rises, and a slight climb toward the finish.

Spectators lined major intersections, waving flags and beating drums as elite runners breezed past. Hydration points stood every five kilometers, manned with military-like efficiency by volunteers in blue.

Uhuru Park: A New Finish Line Legacy

Fresh from renovation, Uhuru Park provided a picturesque backdrop for the finish. Children waved “I Love Nairobi” placards, drone cameras buzzed overhead, and race commentators called in dramatic finishes to a cheering crowd.

For Tunyo, the moment was more than a win — it was a personal best, a city crown, and a father’s reward.

“I’ve been concentrating on training,” he added. “After missing out here before, I wanted this one.”

From the Expressway's smooth stretch to the final sprint beneath the trees of Uhuru Park, Tunyo’s march to victory was a perfectly scripted Kenyan marathon — quiet strength, controlled fire, and a finish to remember.