How Emily Chepkor Turned a Simple Meetup Into Nairobi’s Go-To Running Community

**Title: How Emily Chepkor Turned a Simple Meetup Into Nairobi’s Go-To Running Community** [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Three years ago, Emily Chepkor was not trying to launch a movement. She simply invited people in Nairobi to join her for a free Saturday morning run, expecting nothing more than a casual jog. Only three other women showed up, and together they ran a six-kilometer loop before ending the morning over coffee at a café. That low-key gathering, however, quietly planted the seeds of something much bigger. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

From that small start, We Run Nairobi has grown into the city’s biggest and most recognizable running club, and a central force in the running wave now visible across Nairobi’s streets. On peak weekends, more than 1,200 runners have turned up to join their sessions. Along the way, Chepkor has led the group into collaborations with brands like Swiss running company On and global skincare label Nivea. What began as a friendly meetup has evolved into a citywide community built on ease, welcome, and the shared joy of moving together. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Chepkor’s own running story began long before the club existed. In 2015, she laced up for the first time because her then-boyfriend was training for an Ironman Triathlon, and his life revolved around workouts. Wanting to spend time with him, she ruled out swimming and cycling—she was not confident in the water and had only learned to ride a bike as an adult—so she chose running. Within weeks, they signed up for a half marathon, and despite the usual “never again” feeling at the finish line, she soon caught herself wondering what challenge might come next. That curiosity led her to register for the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon and, over time, to complete a total of 11 marathons. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Long-distance running suited her temperament. She describes the 42-kilometer marathon as a relentless test, a “war of attrition” that oddly fits her character, even if it never becomes easy. While living abroad, she used running as a social and geographic compass: whenever she moved to a new city, the first thing she did was search for a local running club. Those groups gave her routes to follow, people to meet, and a gentle introduction to unfamiliar places. Running became both a routine and a way to belong. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

In 2022, she reached one of the sport’s most coveted milestones: running the Boston Marathon, known for its demanding qualifying standards. Crossing that iconic blue-and-yellow finish line for her tenth marathon felt like a natural endpoint, and she briefly imagined leaving the marathon distance behind. But after so many years, running was woven too tightly into her life for her to simply walk away. Instead, she started thinking about how to give something back to the community that had sustained her. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Back home in Nairobi, she put up a straightforward invitation on Instagram: she would be standing at a particular spot at 8 a.m., and anyone who wanted company on a run could meet her there. This was October 1, 2022. Only three women came that first day, but the format felt right: a manageable loop followed by coffee and conversation. That first morning became the template for We Run Nairobi. From the outset, Chepkor was determined that the club would remain free and open, mirroring the running groups she had joined around the world. Removing financial barriers meant anyone could show up, participate with dignity, and feel like they belonged. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

The social element was just as important as the miles. The choice of café and route was deliberate; Saturday mornings needed to feel like a treat, not a chore. In the early days, fewer than 40 runners attended, and the group could fit around a single table. People knew each other’s names and noticed when someone missed a week. As word spread, the community grew beyond the point of knowing everyone personally, yet Chepkor hopes that same sense of closeness survives in smaller circles within the larger crowd. She sometimes misses the intimacy of the beginning, but takes pride in how the warmth still radiates through the group. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

In March, she made a major life decision: she resigned from her job as a lawyer to focus on We Run Nairobi full-time. Even now, she hesitates to call it a traditional job, partly because the work is still taking shape. Most days are spent worrying about the upcoming Saturday run, wrestling with logistics, managing partnerships, handling finances, and figuring out operations in real time. Growth has forced her to rapidly acquire new skills, and there are moments when the financial runway looks uncertain. Yet, despite the rollercoaster, the energy of Saturday mornings resets everything. Once the run starts, all the stress of the week falls away, replaced by gratitude and excitement. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Within the community, people treat her as a kind of original cheerleader. Runners come to her with their good news: they show off personal-best times, share their latest Strava stats, and celebrate milestones. She values being the first encouraging voice many members heard when they were just starting out, and the person they return to when they feel proud of their progress. That trust has turned her into both a leader and a listener, anchoring the group with consistent support. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

The club’s culture also extends to collective adventure beyond Nairobi. For many runners, once they have conquered the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, their attention shifts naturally to the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Tanzania. It has become a kind of rite of passage: a race that doubles as a road trip with friends and a chance to “collect” an international marathon. After that, new horizons beckon, like the Rwenzori Marathon in Uganda. Within this growing ecosystem, there is always another challenge to chase, and the community provides a ready-made crew to chase it with. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Even Chepkor’s online presence has evolved along with her role. Her social media once leaned into a carefully curated, stylish persona—“slay girl in Paris,” as she jokes—but has shifted toward fitness and running. It is still her, just a different facet, and she has come to recognize the power of being visible. Seeing a Kenyan woman leading large, diverse running groups sends a message about who belongs in these spaces and what is possible for others. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

She also carries a quirky running superstition: she prefers never to repeat the same race. For her, there is a special thrill in tackling a course for the first time, stepping into the unknown without overthinking. Recently, though, she broke her own rule. In a new relationship, she chose to run the Nairobi Marathon again so they could share the experience together. It was a reminder that some traditions can bend when they meet new chapters in life. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Looking ahead, her short-term dream is sustainability. She imagines a future where We Run Nairobi is structured enough that others handle business development, event setup, and day-to-day operations. In that scenario, she could slip back into the pack as just another runner, enjoying the community she helped build without carrying all the pressure on her shoulders. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

Her long-term vision is even more ambitious. She wants We Run Nairobi to become part of the city’s identity. Ideally, when someone searches for things to do in Nairobi, the club would appear alongside the National Park and the National Museum as a must-do experience. In her mind, it should stand as a fixture of the city—something locals are proud of and visitors are eager to try. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)

At the center of all this is a simple truth: Chepkor loves running in almost every form. Group runs, solitary runs, early-morning miles in the dark—she embraces all of it. What matters most is the combination of movement and community, the feeling of doing something together. When those elements come together, whether in a crowd of hundreds or a loop with a few friends, it feels, to her, absolutely perfect. [okayafrica](https://www.okayafrica.com/what-its-like-to-build-nairobis-most-popular-running-club/1418817)