Sportswear traders cash in on Kenyan’s new fitness craze

Gerry Running shoes founder Carolyn Njeri pictured during an interview on September 2, 2026 at her shop located at the Bazaar in Nairobi. 

Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group

Every month, another marathon appears on Kenya’s race calendar, and for Caroline Njeri, that means more runners walking into her shop looking for a new pair of shoes.

She estimates she now sells between 20 and 50 pairs around major races, a level of demand that would have been unusual several years ago.

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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.