Lampard Mutuku won the  21km category of the Friends of Karura anniversary Race, held on Sunday at Karura Forest as part of the official warm-up series for the 22nd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon (SCNM).

The event attracted over 1500 participants competing in the 2km, 5km, 10km, and 21km races, before culminating in a family-friendly Berlin Marathon watch party.

This year’s edition of the Friends of Karura Anniversary Race celebrated the crucial role of the Kenya Forest Service and Friends of Karura in preserving and protecting Karura Forest, a cherished green space that doubles as an iconic training and recreational venue for athletes and families alike.

Speaking after his win, Mutuku praised the challenging Karura terrain as perfect preparation for major competitions.

He added that the victory was a strong indicator of his readiness for the upcoming Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in October, where he is targeting an even stronger performance.

The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon will take place on 26th October 2025 at Uhuru Gardens, with more than 30,000 runners expected to participate. Approximately 26,000 have already registered ahead of the October 10 deadline, including elite athletes from Kenya and across the region, promising a highly competitive event.

“Preparations for SCNM 2025 are at an advanced stage, and the enthusiasm witnessed at Karura reflects the strong support from our partners and the running community,” said David Mwindi, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee.

“The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is not just about running; it is about creating impact through the Futuremakers initiative, which supports women, youth, and persons with disabilities.”

This year’s marathon aims to raise over KES 70 million for Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the Bank’s global initiative that empowers young people through education, employability, and entrepreneurship. In 2024, the marathon raised KES 48 million, which directly funded Futuremakers programmes in Kenya.

The Friends of Karura Anniversary Race was the third and final warm-up event ahead of SCNM 2025. It will be followed by a medical camp in Kibera and a satellite run in Mombasa, all designed to build momentum towards the main event.

To elevate the race-day experience, organisers have announced several improvements, including an exclusive finish-line channel for elite runners in the 42km marathon, separate finishing points for the 21km and 10km races to ease congestion, a 30% expansion of the walk-off area for smoother flow and improved safety, additional medal and hydration teams, and a new photo-finish zone where runners can capture high-quality images without obstructing movement.