Kenya has intensified its campaign to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi, seeking to bring the global track and field showpiece to Africa for the first time.

Nairobi is among the cities competing to host the championships, with the final decision expected in September 2026.

A successful bid would make Kenya the first African country to host the senior World Athletics Championships, providing an opportunity for the country to showcase its athletics heritage while positioning Nairobi as a major destination for international sporting events.

President William Ruto has reaffirmed the Government’s full backing for the bid, pledging the necessary support to ensure Kenya is ready to host the global competition.

The campaign comes as Kenya continues to strengthen its reputation as a host of international sporting events.

The country stages the Kip Keino Classic in athletics, the Safari Rally in motorsport and the Magical Kenya Open in golf, competitions that have helped raise Kenya’s profile on the international sporting calendar.

Kenya’s experience in hosting major competitions is also expected to strengthen its case.

The country hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, the 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships, both in Nairobi.

Nairobi has also hosted the African Athletics Championships, while the city continues to stage international athletics meetings.

Infrastructure key to Nairobi bid

One of the central pillars of Kenya’s candidature is the ongoing expansion and upgrading of sporting infrastructure.

The development of the Raila Odinga International Stadium, formerly Talanta Stadium, and improvements at Kasarani and Nyayo national stadiums are expected to give Nairobi modern facilities capable of supporting major international competitions.

The 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium is among the Government’s flagship sports infrastructure projects and is being developed with the capacity to host major international events.

The Government is also constructing and upgrading sporting facilities in different parts of the country as part of a broader effort to expand opportunities for young athletes.

The infrastructure investments are taking place as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The three countries also used the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to test their ability to organise a major continental tournament.

Betting on Kenya’s athletics reputation

Kenya’s athletics pedigree remains one of its biggest advantages in the campaign.

The country has produced generations of Olympic and world champions, particularly in middle- and long-distance running.

Government officials and sports leaders have argued that hosting the World Championships in Kenya would complement the country’s success in producing elite athletes by giving them an opportunity to compete on home soil.

The bid is also supported by Kenya’s high-altitude training environment, favourable climate, hospitality industry and large following for athletics and other sports.

Beyond the competition itself, the Government views the hosting of major international events as an opportunity to stimulate tourism, hospitality, transport and other sectors of the economy.

It also expects such events to create jobs and expose young people to opportunities within the wider sports industry.

Security and visitor experience

Kenya is also promising a smooth experience for athletes, officials and international visitors attending the championships.

The Government has committed to providing world-class security, adequate accommodation and seamless immigration processes.

It has also pledged expedited visa-on-arrival arrangements to facilitate entry into the country for visitors attending the event.

The commitments are intended to demonstrate Kenya’s readiness to handle the logistical demands associated with hosting a global competition involving thousands of athletes, officials, media representatives and spectators.

Beyond medals

The 2029 bid is being pursued against the backdrop of increased Government investment in sports, including new facilities, talent development programmes and support for national teams.

The Government has increasingly presented sport as more than a source of international medals, arguing that it can provide careers and livelihoods for young Kenyans while contributing to the wider economy.

County-based sporting facilities and grassroots talent identification programmes are being expanded to give young athletes opportunities to develop their abilities closer to home.

For Kenya, hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships would bring together those ambitions — showcasing the country’s athletics talent while demonstrating its capacity to stage a major global sporting event.

The decision expected in September will determine whether Nairobi makes history by becoming the first African host of the senior World Athletics Championships.

For a country whose sporting identity has been built largely on athletics, winning the bid would represent an opportunity to take that legacy from producing champions to hosting the world’s biggest athletics stage.

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