Kenya will make history in 2029 after Nairobi was awarded the right to host the World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African country to stage the premier global athletics competition.
President William Ruto welcomed the decision as a major moment for Kenya and the continent, saying the hosting rights were a recognition of generations of Kenyan athletes who have built the country’s reputation as a global athletics powerhouse.
“The World Athletics Championships are coming home!” Ruto said in a statement on Tuesday, describing the award as “Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment”.
“This is Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment and a victory for generations of athletes who made our nation synonymous with excellence on the track, on the road and cross country,” he said.
Ruto congratulated the Kenyan bid team, Athletics Kenya, the Ministry of Sports, Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, athletes and other stakeholders involved in securing the rights to host the championships.
He also thanked World Athletics for choosing Kenya, promising that the country would deliver an event worthy of the confidence placed in it.
“We will honour that confidence by delivering an unforgettable championship worthy of our athletes, our country and our continent,” Ruto said.
Nairobi secured the 2029 championships on Tuesday after beating competing bids from London, Rome and Munich during the selection process at the World Athletics Council meeting in Budapest.
The decision marks a major milestone for Kenya’s athletics ambitions, with the country set to welcome the world’s leading track and field athletes for the global event.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the decision followed a competitive process involving four strong bids for the 2029 and 2031 championships.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council,” Coe said.
Munich was selected to host the 2031 championships, with Coe saying the German city and Nairobi had submitted “two compelling propositions” that presented different opportunities for athletics.
Nairobi’s bid was backed by financial guarantees, operational plans, experience in hosting international competitions and plans to upgrade its main athletics stadium.
The Kenyan capital had previously sought to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships but was unsuccessful. It later strengthened its case by hosting major athletics competitions, including the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships.
The 2029 championships will be held after the 2027 edition in Beijing, which is scheduled for September 10-19.
The hosting decision also comes as Kenya undertakes major sports infrastructure projects, including the construction of Talanta Stadium and the rehabilitation of Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums.
The 2029 championships will give Kenya an opportunity to bring the world’s biggest athletics event to a country that has produced generations of top performers in track, road and cross-country running.