Can Nairobi Become the World’s Next Great Running City?

It’s Saturday morning on a crisp Nairobi day. On Riverside Drive, Emily Chepkor, the founder of We Run Nairobi, watches as nearly 300 runners gather under the soft morning light. She scans the group: university boys still shaking off sleep, mothers linking arms with their daughters, girlfriends laughing as they tie up their laces. They vary in age, shape, and speed. But as the run begins, they pour into the road, forming a moving stream of color and joy.

“We’re here doing our best. You can walk or you can run, and the community will be waiting,” says Chepkor. “Then we’ll share coffee afterwards.”

On a typical Saturday at 7:10 a.m., We Run Nairobi draws between 300 and 400 runners, an already impressive crowd that can swell to over 600 when special sponsor events are on the calendar.

A few years ago, scenes like this were rare. When Chepkor put the call out for runners to join her in 2022, only three women showed up. Now, on weekends across Nairobi, running clubs flood the streets. What was once a niche habit is becoming a shared ritual of movement for recreational runners.

Kenya is renowned for distance-running icons like Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon. Yet, this recent surge in interest has given rise to a new kind of running culture shaped by ordinary residents. From dawn jogs in Karura Forest to loops through Karen and Loresho, Nairobians are building community, finding joy, and making fitness more accessible.

But as the momentum grows, the question is whether this grassroots energy can overcome the city’s barriers — lack of infrastructure and safety — to transform Nairobi into a true running capital.

The Rise of Running Clubs

For decades, serious runners have travelled from around the world to Iten. The high-altitude Kenyan town is known as the “Home of Champions” and offers a chance to train and immerse themselves with Kenya’s elite athletes.

However, in Nairobi, this new culture is powered by recreational runners like Anthony Kiai. He chairs Urban Swaras, a 19-year-old club and one of the city’s most established. He remembers when public exercise in the streets still raised eyebrows.

“Before, it looked very odd for you to be running around semi-naked,” he tells OkayAfrica. “People would often ask, ‘Are you running for money?’ The assumption was always that we were training for prize money. Some would even say, ‘Why are you running if you're fat? Just stop eating.’ These are the kinds of questions you get from people who don’t understand running as a lifestyle.”

The COVID-19 pandemic changed that, he shares. With gyms closed and social life limited, many turned to running as an outlet for health and social connection. He says that after the pandemic, weekend turnout for Urban Swaras runs tripled, as many Nairobians sought healthier routines and outdoor connection. 

Globally, this rise in Nairobi’s running culture reflects a broader trend. According to World Athletics' 2023 survey, running participation has not only rebounded after the pandemic but in many markets now exceeds pre-2020 levels. The data suggests a sustained global shift in running culture that is driven by health benefits and a new generation of recreational runners.

In Nairobi, the growth is visible. Research for this story surfaced at least 12 clubs across the city, each with different vibes. Some train competitive athletes, others focus on social jogging or even walking.

This variety underscores the evolving running ecosystem in Nairobi, where different clubs meet different needs. Purity Ngugira, a finance professional, joined the Karura Running Club after her usual running partners stopped showing up. 

“I found myself running alone a lot, and I thought, let me join a club just for the sake of community,” she tells OkayAfrica.

She adds: “Running is not easy… but when you run with people, the distance doesn’t feel as much as when you’re running by yourself. I found that it’s actually a very easy way of getting to bond with people and getting to know people and network.”

Founded in 2020, Karura Running Club also saw its numbers grow in response to the pandemic. Ngugira says the club’s active social media presence was what initially drew her in and continues to attract new members.

Chepkor has witnessed that momentum firsthand with We Run Nairobi, which has grown into one of the city’s most recognizable clubs. This is thanks in part to viral videos showcasing first-timers, slow joggers, and joyful crowds that challenge the notion that fitness is only for the elite.

And by making the club free — unlike many others with structured fees — Chepkor ensured that access was never a barrier. “Most wellness spaces in Nairobi are expensive and exclusive,” she says. “We wanted something different.”

The Hurdles Nairobi Must Clear to Attain Global Running Status

As Nairobi’s running clubs have grown, their influence is increasingly visible in the city’s marquee race: the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. For many new runners, interest in the marathon emerges naturally. After their first race or club meet-up, curiosity builds. With support from the group environment, regular events, and social encouragement, many quickly set their sights on bigger goals.

This growing enthusiasm is reflected in the numbers. In 2024, the marathon drew approximately 25,000 runners. By 2025, that number had climbed to 30,000, with participants representing 92 nationalities.

Chepkor emphasizes that the club’s role isn’t just about community or leisure. The club helps people build the confidence to tackle more formal events. And once they have achieved the local marathon, they want to do more.

“It’s all positive peer pressure. You see others sign up, so you do too,” she explains. “Everyone who's finished the Standard Chartered, their eyes are immediately then set on the Kilimanjaro Marathon [in Tanzania]. So that's always the trajectory…you start investigating what's next.”

But for all this momentum, Nairobi is far from a runner’s paradise. Runners regularly cite infrastructure, safety, and social dynamics as major hurdles to making running a universally accessible activity.

Kiai recalls being mugged while running along the Southern Bypass. Some neighborhoods are perceived as safer, and many clubs now stick to those routes or hire escorts or security on the trails during runs to avoid incidents.

Safety concerns are especially pronounced for women. “I don’t feel safe running alone… that’s where the club comes in,” Ngugira says. Clubs offer safety in numbers and a sense of solidarity, but that doesn’t completely eliminate risk. For example, running in shorts can still attract unwanted attention or stares. 

Sidewalks — or the lack thereof — pose another consistent obstacle. Many of Nairobi’s roads lack pedestrian infrastructure entirely. Runners have to contend with narrow walkways, open drainage systems, potholes, and unpredictable traffic. 

“We can’t all really thrive outside,” Chepkor explains. “We barely have pavements. That’s why most of our runs happen in the same neighborhoods. We’ve found a kind of ecosystem with quiet roads, gated communities, and low traffic at certain times.”

Cost is another barrier. Though often framed as a low-cost sport, running can quickly become expensive. A decent pair of running shoes, Kiai says, can cost between KES 5,000 ($38.62) and KES 20,000 ($154.50). Add in clothing, hydration, and transportation to safe running zones, and the expenses rise.

These patterns reflect a broader truth: in Nairobi, the ability to run freely can often be shaped by privilege and access.

The Future of Running in Nairobi

Nairobi is inching closer to becoming a world-class running city. But can it truly get there?

In some ways, it already has. Runners are creating something new by blending health, culture, and resistance. But for the movement to reach its full potential, it will need government support. Sidewalks, safety measures, and inclusive urban planning remain essential.

“If Uhuru Highway was closed every Sunday morning, what a revolution that would be,” says Kiai.

Chepkor cites cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, where weekly Parkruns are central to community running culture. These events are neighborhood-based, easy to access, and open to runners of all levels, fostering a strong sense of inclusion.

In Nairobi, however, the lack of public parks and pedestrian infrastructure makes that kind of model difficult to replicate. Until that changes, Nairobi’s runners will keep showing up. 

“When you see hundreds of people out here, you realize we’re all rooting for one another,” Chepkor says. “That’s what makes this city feel like home.”