By 7:30 am on Saturday mornings, the parking lot at Kofisi Square in Westlands, Nairobi, is already packed. The typical signs of Friday night revelryhangover sunglasses and tired facesare nowhere to be found. Instead, people stretching by the roadside, setting their running watches, or simply talking as dawn breaks appear energized and enthusiastic.
A transformation is taking place.
Emily Chepkor, a lawyer and 11-time marathoner, took the initiative in October 2022 to persuade three friends to join her for a Saturday morning run.
“Nairobi has always been known as a party city, a place that comes alive on weekends,” she explains. “However, we’re gradually shifting this culture. Many people are now adjusting their Friday night plans or skipping them entirely to embrace early morning running.”
Beginning with just four individuals running on sidewalks, this initiative has evolved into We Run Nairobi, now the city’s biggest free running community, attracting hundreds of participants to its Saturday gatherings at Riverside Square each week.
The increasing focus on health in Kenya extends beyond running, with cycling, skating, hiking, and other physical activities gaining popularity amid a worsening health situation in urban areas.
The 2025 annual report from WHO Kenya indicates that non-communicable diseases contribute to 41% of all deaths and constitute half of all hospital admissions nationwide.
During Kenya’s first National NCD Conference held in Nairobi in November 2025, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga identified this as one of the nation’s most urgent public health concerns, describing the conference as a significant step forward in tackling the problem.
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
For many members, We Run Nairobi offers a welcome alternative to fitness venues that frequently seem out of reach.
Georgina Atieno had long recognized her need to improve her fitness but found it difficult to maintain a consistent gym regimen.
“Going to the gym always felt like an obligation,” she shares. “It’s costly, overcrowded, and sometimes unwelcoming.”
Instead, she discovered at We Run Nairobi a free outdoor community where people reliably gather each week, not only to run but also to support and motivate each other.
Every Saturday morning, hundreds of runners now populate Nairobi’s streets, many with similar experiences of seeking physical activity without the stress commonly associated with conventional fitness environments.
This inclusivity distinguishes the club from others. While most running organizations charge between Sh600-1,800 for sessions and post-run refreshments, We Run Nairobi remains completely free.
Malia, a law student adhering to the 75 Hard fitness challenge, came across the club on Instagram and chose to become a member.
“I appreciate the community aspect and seeing people collectively pursue health,” she explains. “Everything is thoughtfully organizedthe precise warm-up schedules, the planned distances, the cool-down periods. For me, outdoor exercise was essential for my fitness journey, and this community resonated with me personally.”
The actual run represents only one component of the experience. Following the completion of routes, many participants remain to share meals, socialize, and form connections. Malia indicates that this is where significant networking takes place.
“Participation is optional,” she notes. “Yet somehow, everyone chooses to stay.”
The club’s influence has expanded well beyond Nairobi’s running community. Chepkor currently serves as a brand ambassador for the Swiss running company On, and the organization recently collaborated on a lifestyle run at Windsor Golf Club that drew over 500 participants.
The fact that an international sportswear company approached Nairobi to partner with a running group initiated by a lawyer and three friends highlights the rapid growth of this movement.
Alfredo Forbes, a lead coach holding a health science degree and certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, observes that this cultural transformation extends beyond the realm of fitness.
“Even the alcohol industry has noted decreased revenue in recent months,” he reports. “Younger generations are increasingly embracing athleticism as a way of life. Kenya is progressively establishing itself as a nation of fitness enthusiasts.”
PERSONAL STRUGGLES AND CLUB SUSTAINABILITY
Beneath the surface of We Run Nairobi’s expansion lay a deeply personal challenge for its founder.
Prior to establishing We Run Nairobi, Chepkor was enduring one of the most difficult phases of her career.
Following her experience in public international law, she made the challenging choice to shift to traditional legal practice, essentially forcing her to rebuild her professional foundation from scratch.
“Essentially, you’re back at square one,” she reflects. “Every aspect of your career takes a step backward. There’s a disconnect between your current position, where you expected to be, and where your contemporaries have reached.”
This period of uncertainty persisted for nearly three years. Throughout this time, running remained the one element of her life she was determined to maintain.
“When other aspects of life feel unstable, you cling tenaciously to what you can control.”
Establishing and growing We Run Nairobi also imposed significant financial burdens. Organizing weekly events across various neighborhoods, with participants traveling considerable distances, demanded substantial resources, time, and commitment. For an extended period, Chepkor personally covered most of these expenses.
“Maintaining this as a completely time-consuming volunteer role wasn’t sustainable,” she acknowledges. “It needed to demonstrate its viability as a business to ensure continuity beyond my involvement.”
Currently, corporate partnerships support the organization’s operations, though Chepkor remains aware of the lengthy process required to reach this point.
“Sustainability came somewhat later than the initial launch,” she observes. “Which seems to be the typical trajectory for most new ventures.”
GROWING BEYOND NAIROBI
This concept is now extending beyond Nairobi. Communities from various regions across Kenya have begun inquiring about replicating this model in their own localities.
“We receive numerous inquiries about establishing similar communities in other parts of Kenya,” she shares. “However, the critical factor remains sustainability, as these initiatives must continue to be free of charge.”
On most Saturdays, the running session concludes with a DJ performance. By 10 am, the parking lot has converted into a dance area where runners, still catching their breath, laugh, converse, and move together under the morning sun.
“We’re all alert, dancing, and celebrating through physical activity,” Chepkor observes. “This demonstrates that we are indeed a continent that enjoys life. However, that happiness doesn’t need to be confined to nighttime.”
Chepkor has essentially transformed Nairobi’s streets into a public fitness venue open to all. In a city where public parks and recreational facilities remain scarce, this accessibility holds particular importance.
Following the cool-down activities at Kofisi Square, participants don’t immediately depart. They linger to enjoy coffee, engage in conversations, and discuss the routes, the challenging hills, and which segments of the run proved most demanding.
Traditionally, Nairobi’s energy peaked after sunset. Chepkor is now championing the vibrancy of the early hours instead.