Stanchart race kitty bulges with Sh77m pledges

Eunice Jeptoo reacts after winning the 42.2km Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2014 at Nyayo Stadium on October 26, 2014. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • Bank will spend its own Sh100 million on annual charity event
  • Jubilee Insurance, who will cover the expected 23,000 participants, has joined title sponsors Standard Chartered Bank with Sh21m sponsorship in cash and kind while Nakumatt Holdings gave Sh15 million.

The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon on Friday received a shot in the arm when 11 firms pledged Sh77 million in support of the race that will be held on October 25 in Kenya’s capital city.

Jubilee Insurance, who will cover the expected 23,000 participants, has joined title sponsors Standard Chartered Bank with Sh21m sponsorship in cash and kind while Nakumatt Holdings gave Sh15 million.

Standard Chartered Bank have ploughed in Sh100 million. Also coming on board were G4S, who parted with Sh10 million while Access Kenya and Nairobi County pledged Sh6m each. Alpine Coolers, the official water supply for the race, have put in Sh5.2 million while Majestic Printing Works limited and Uchumi Supermarkets have a Sh5 million sponsorship each.

Avenue Health Care unveiled Sh2.5 million while Parapet Cleaning Services Sh1.2 million, Subaru Kenya Sh500,000 and Greenloop International Sh350,000.

Chairman of the Nairobi Marathon organising committee, Peter Gitau, said during the sponsorship drive at the Stanley that they  hoped to raise Sh30m for the “Seeing is Believing” race charity initiative.

Last year’s event attracted 19,000 participants with Sh28.3 million realised for charity. Over Sh100m has been raised since the inception of the marathon in 2003. The event aims at helping restore sight to children in Kenya.

SURGE EXPECTED

More than 5,000 participants had registered for the race by yesterday but a surge is expected in the coming week. Registration is ongoing at Standard Chartered Bank branches, select Uchumi and Nakumatt supermarkets and health clubs at Sh2,000.

Online registration at www.nairobimarathon.com at a subsidised rate of Sh1,500 closes today and all registration on October 19.

Gitau said a new category dubbed the CEO Challenge that will cover 3km had been introduced this year. CEO will compete at an entry fee of Sh500,000. “This category is to help bolster the Seeing is Believing charity kitty,” said Gitau.