Kenya has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Nairobi the first African city ever to stage the sport’s premier global event and handing the country a landmark moment in its long athletics history.
The Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani is set to be transformed into the centrepiece of the championships after Kenya’s bid beat out rival campaigns from London, Rome and Munich, with Munich instead awarded hosting rights for the following edition in 2031.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said Nairobi’s bid stood out for its emotional resonance as much as its technical merits, noting that bringing the championships to Africa for the first time carried historic weight for the sport. Kenyan officials framed the win as a validation of the country’s status as a global powerhouse in distance running, pointing to Kenya’s position as the second-most successful nation in the history of the World Athletics Championships.
The announcement triggered jubilant reactions among athletes, coaches and sports administrators, many of whom have long argued that a country producing so many of the world’s top middle- and long-distance runners deserved the chance to host the sport’s flagship event. Kasarani has previously hosted continental and junior championships, but 2029 will mark its biggest test yet as organisers prepare to welcome thousands of athletes, officials and fans from across the globe.
Government and sporting officials are expected to move quickly to outline upgrade plans for the stadium and surrounding infrastructure, with hosting commitments of this scale typically requiring significant investment in transport, accommodation and security in the years leading up to the event. Nairobi’s successful past hosting of continental sporting and diplomatic gatherings is likely to be cited as officials seek to reassure global federations of the country’s readiness.
The win is also expected to provide a considerable boost to Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sectors, with major athletics championships historically drawing large numbers of international visitors and extensive global broadcast coverage.
For now, attention turns to the four-year build-up, with Kenya Sports officials and World Athletics beginning technical planning to ensure Kasarani is ready to deliver what organisers are already billing as a historic championships for the continent.