Nairobi is gearing up for the highly anticipated Nairobi City Marathon set to take place on Sunday, July 6, as thousands of runners take to the streets and citywide major road closures are announced.
In order to ensure the safety of the participants and the smooth running of the event, city authorities have introduced an extensive traffic regulation plan. Several main roads will be blocked to vehicles from 10pm on Saturday, July 5, with restrictions in place till Sunday at 2pm, and in some places even longer.
Among the affected routes is the Nairobi Expressway, along James Gichuru and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The government will close the expressway in both directions temporarily from 10pm on Saturday to 3pm on Sunday.
The Marathon will cause heavy traffic inconvenience throughout the city, particularly for passengers heading to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
From midnight on Sunday, Waiyaki Way’s inner lanes, from Musa Gitau Road to the Expressway entry point, will be closed until 10am.
Motorists will also not have access to the Mombasa Road and Southern Bypass interchange at Likoni Road between midnight and 11am. Throughout this period, all roundabouts, exits, and entrance points to the city centre will be shut.
At the same time, Uhuru Highway, which is one of the busiest roads in Nairobi, will be closed between midnight and 2pm on Sunday for the benefit of the marathon route and security of runners.
The Southern Bypass and Langata Roundabout will also be impacted, and from Bunyala Roundabout to Kenyatta Avenue.
Kenyatta Avenue will also be cut off from midnight to 4pm, between the PanAfric Hotel and Uhuru Highway.
In an attempt to minimize the rate of disruption, organizers have provided an extensive road closure map, specifying which roads would be closed and which one could remain in use.
Thika Road, Raila Odinga Road, Lusaka Road, Langata Road, and the Southern Bypass will be open for use as alternative routes by drivers during the event.
A number of big junctions and connecting roads, however, will be closed, among them: University Way, Haile Selassie Avenue, Bunyala Road, Capital Centre, Popo Road, and Kapiti Road.
The marathon route will wind through some of Nairobi’s most iconic landmarks, with both the starting and finishing points located at Uhuru Park.
City officials are encouraging residents and visitors to review the closure schedule in advance and plan their movements early to avoid delays or inconvenience.
Commuters have been advised to plan their travel accordingly and use alternative routes where possible.
