Sanlam Allianz Kenya Moves To Sponsor Elite Kenyan Team for the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

The 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is on a journey to becoming an Abbott World Marathon Major.  This is a definitive “Evaluation Year” in which the successful event will secure its place as the 8th World Marathon Major.

The event will welcome over 27,000 runners, including 8,500 international participants from 102 countries and over 25 African nations. All participants who complete the race will earn a provisional star from the Abbott World Marathon Major, which will automatically be upgraded to an official star once the marathon achieves Major status. The title sponsor, Sanlam, has committed to ensuring the journey to Major status remains inclusive, prioritizing runners who supported the race throughout its candidacy year. For runners and sports enthusiasts in Africa, this event represents more than just a race; it is the realization of a long-held dream to see an African marathon join the ranks of global icons like London, Berlin, Boston, and Tokyo.

In the spirit of the marathon, SanlamAllianz launched the “African Champions Unite” campaign, a bold, continent‑wide initiative designed to unite Africa’s leading champions and amplify their impact across the region. In Kenya, SanlamAllianz partnered with running clubs, inviting all runners, whether recreational or professional, to take part in the challenge and offering full sponsorship to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon for the top winners to compete alongside some of the greatest marathoners in history.

Sanlam Allianz Holdings (Kenya) PLC Group CEO Dr. Nyamemba Patrick Tumbo said the Cape Town Marathon represents a celebration of unity, excellence and African pride. “At SanlamAllianz Kenya, we stand firmly beside our athletes at every stage of their journey.” said Dr. Tumbo. “Beyond sponsorships to professional elite runners, we designed the African Champions Unite Campaign to give back to our community by partnering with running clubs and inviting every Kenyan citizen to take part in the challenge, nurturing the dreams of Kenyan runners. SanlamAllianz Kenya has sponsored a total of seven elite runners; Japheth Kiplagat, James Munga, Fridah Chepkite Lodepa, Josephat Kipkoech, Dixon Marende, Meshack Shivina & Emily Chepkor. We wish them every success as they represent Kenya in the upcoming marathon.”

The campaign ran from April 20 to May 10, 2026, and was monitored on Strava, inviting running enthusiasts across the country to compete for a fully sponsored trip to Cape Town. The full sponsorship package included return flights to Cape Town, airport transfers, accommodation, marathon entry, travel insurance, food and beverages and a Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race kit along with the opportunity to represent Kenya at this historic event.

The 2026 Cape Town Marathon edition carries a significantly increased total prize purse of USD 35,000 for the winner, an increase from USD 25,000 first prize on offer in 2025, reflecting the event’s growing stature. This is part of SanlamAllianz’s broader ambition to create transformative opportunities across sectors and support initiatives that showcase Africa’s excellence to the world.

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