Nairobi’s big win: Kenya to host World Athletics Championships in 2029

Nairobi has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, delivering a landmark victory for Kenya and opening a new chapter for global athletics.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, September 15, means the world’s premier outdoor track and field championships will be staged in Africa for the first time.

Nairobi beat bids from London, Rome and Munich after the World Athletics Council considered the four proposals for the 2029 and 2031 editions.

Munich was awarded the 2031 championships.

The decision was made during the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the final choice had been difficult because of the quality of the competing bids.

“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council,” Coe said.

He said Nairobi and Munich had ultimately presented compelling cases, with each offering a different opportunity for the sport.

The award is particularly significant for Kenya.

The country has produced some of the biggest names in distance running and middle-distance athletics. Yet Africa has never hosted the senior World Athletics Championships.

That changes in 2029.

From athletics powerhouse to championship host

Kenya's influence on world athletics has long been measured in medals.

Now, the country will have to demonstrate that it can deliver the biggest stage on which those medals are won.

Kenya finished second on the medal table at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Those gold medals included victories by Lilian Odira in the women's 800m, Faith Kipyegon in the 1,500m, Beatrice Chebet in the 5,000m and 10,000m, Faith Cherotich in the steeplechase and Peres Jepchirchir in the marathon.

But hosting is a different test from competing.

Nairobi will have to provide the stadiums, transport, accommodation, security, broadcasting facilities and other services required for thousands of athletes, officials, journalists and fans.

That is where the 2029 award becomes a major test of Kenya's sporting infrastructure.

The stadium question

Kenya is already investing heavily in sports facilities.

The Talanta Sports City project is expected to add a major new venue, while the government has also been rehabilitating existing facilities, including Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums.

Kasarani has previously hosted major international athletics events. The venue hosted the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships, giving Nairobi experience of running global youth competitions. World Athletics has previously noted the strong turnout for the 2017 event.

The 2029 bid therefore builds on an existing record rather than starting from scratch.

But the World Athletics hosting requirements are demanding.

The main stadium must have capacity for at least 30,000 spectators and meet the governing body's Class 1 athletics facility standards. Hosts must also provide suitable warm-up facilities and compliant road-race courses.

That gives Kenya roughly three years to ensure the infrastructure is not only completed, but ready for international scrutiny.

Nairobi's second attempt pays off

The victory also represents a comeback for Nairobi.

Kenya had previously pursued the right to host the 2025 World Championships but did not secure the event.

This time, the Kenyan bid returned with experience from hosting major World Athletics competitions and a wider infrastructure plan.

Nairobi's case also rested on the country's unusually strong connection with athletics.

World Athletics said the Kenyan public showed particularly high interest in the sport during research carried out for the bid, underlining the potential for strong local support.

That matters because the championships are not simply a television event. They are also a chance to bring the sport closer to a new audience and demonstrate Africa's capacity to host a competition of global scale.

London and Rome miss out

Nairobi's victory came at the expense of three major European bids.

London had considerable experience on its side, having hosted the 2017 World Championships. It also entered the 2029 contest with a strong financial and political backing.

Rome brought its own history and experience of major international sporting events, while Munich ultimately secured the 2031 edition.

World Athletics said all four bids were strong before selecting Nairobi and Munich for the two championships.

The result therefore represents more than a Kenyan victory.

It marks a deliberate expansion of the championships' geographical reach.

What happens between now and 2029?

The celebration will eventually give way to a long list of deadlines.

Kenya must ensure its main stadium meets World Athletics requirements. It must also prepare competition and training venues, accommodation, transport networks, medical services, security arrangements and broadcasting infrastructure.

The experience of hosting the 2017 World Under-18 and 2021 World Under-20 championships gives Nairobi a useful foundation. But the senior World Championships will be a much larger undertaking.

The pressure will also be on Kenya to ensure that the investment leaves something lasting after the final race.

For athletes, the 2029 championships will be another opportunity to compete for world titles.

For Kenya, the challenge is broader.

It must show that the country that has dominated many of the world's most demanding running events can also stage them at the highest level.

The next edition of the World Championships will be held in Beijing in 2027.

Two years later, the global athletics spotlight will move to Nairobi.

For the first time, Africa will be at the centre of it.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.