SanlamAllianz Kenya has sponsored seven Kenyan runners to participate in the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, as the South African race enters what organisers describe as an “Evaluation Year” on its path to becoming the 8th Abbott World Marathon Major and the first on the African continent.

In a media release dated May 24, 2026, the insurer said it will provide a full sponsorship package for the athletes to compete in Cape Town. The company named the sponsored runners as Japheth Kiplagat, James Munga, Fridah Chepkite Lodepa, Josephat Kipkoech, Dixon Marende, Meshack Shivina and Emily Chepkor.

The development comes as the Cape Town Marathon seeks to join the global World Marathon Majors series, a list that currently includes races such as London, Berlin, Boston and Tokyo. Organisers say that once the event attains Major status, runners who complete the race will receive an official Abbott World Marathon Major star, with finishers in the candidacy period earning a “provisional star” that will later be upgraded.

According to the media release, the 2026 edition is expected to host more than 27,000 runners, including 8,500 international participants from 102 countries and runners from more than 25 African nations. Sanlam is listed as the title sponsor of the event.

SanlamAllianz Kenya said its sponsorship follows a nationwide challenge run on Strava, a fitness tracking platform, under its “African Champions Unite” campaign. The company said it partnered with running clubs and opened participation to recreational and professional runners.

“At SanlamAllianz Kenya, we stand firmly beside our athletes at every stage of their journey,” said Dr. Nyamemba Patrick Tumbo, Group CEO of Sanlam Allianz Holdings (Kenya) PLC, in the media release. He added: “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.”

The insurer said the campaign ran from April 20 to May 10, 2026 and that winners received a fully sponsored trip to Cape Town. According to the media release, the sponsorship package includes return flights, airport transfers, accommodation, marathon entry, travel insurance, food and beverages, and a race kit.

For Kenya’s corporate sector, the sponsorship highlights the continued role of private companies in financing sports participation and athlete mobility, particularly in events that offer global visibility. It also reflects how consumer fitness platforms such as Strava are increasingly being used to run nationwide engagement campaigns, linking brand activity to measurable participation.

The media release also points to increased competition incentives at the Cape Town Marathon. Organisers have set the 2026 winner’s prize at USD 35,000 (about KES 4.5 million), up from USD 25,000 (about KES 3.2 million) in 2025, according to SanlamAllianz Kenya. The higher purse may attract more elite runners and strengthen the event’s case as it seeks Major status.

Looking ahead, the key milestone will be whether the Cape Town Marathon secures Abbott World Marathon Major recognition following the evaluation period. For Kenyan runners and sponsors, the decision will determine whether the race becomes a permanent top-tier marathon destination within Africa’s time zone and travel radius, potentially opening more opportunities for participation and commercial partnerships in the region.