Kenya: How Nairobi secured the 2029 World Athletics championships

Kenya has secured the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi. The decision will make the Kenyan capital the first African city to stage the global event.

On Tuesday, President William Ruto welcomed the announcement and described the championship as a historic return of the event to Africa. He said the achievement belongs to generations of Kenyan athletes who have built the country’s reputation in athletics.

Nairobi was competing against London and Rome for the 2029 edition. Munich will host the 2031 championships. Kenya had previously tried to secure the 2025 event, but Tokyo eventually won the bid.

Athletics at the heart of Kenyan identity

To begin with, Kenya’s long tradition in athletics played an important role in its successful campaign. The country ranks second in the history of the World Championships, with 72 gold medals.

Much of that success has come from middle- and long-distance events. Kenyan athletes have also collected 38 Olympic gold medals over the years.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted the importance of athletics in Kenyan society. He pointed to the contribution of famous athletes such as two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, 800m world record holder David Rudisha and multiple world and Olympic medallist Faith Kipyegon.

Beyond its athletes, Kenya also has a large and passionate athletics audience. A World Athletics survey found that 68% of Kenyans have a high level of interest in the sport. The global average was 39%.

Athletics is also the country’s second-most followed sport after football. Kenya ranked fourth among nations by followers on World Athletics’ social media platforms.

Upgrading Kenya’s sporting facilities

Another major factor was the improvement of Kenya’s sports infrastructure. The country’s previous attempt to host the 2025 championships was affected by concerns about its facilities.

This time, the situation is different. Kasarani Stadium is undergoing a major structural renovation ahead of the 2029 competition.

The Nairobi venue can accommodate around 48,000 spectators. It will also be used during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenyan officials said the country learned important lessons from its unsuccessful 2025 campaign. They worked to address weaknesses identified during the previous bid.

In addition, Nairobi has substantial experience in welcoming international visitors. The city regularly hosts major conferences and international events.

Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industries are also expected to support the championship. Nairobi has the additional attraction of a national park located within the city.

Financial and security commitments

At the same time, the Kenyan government made financial and security commitments as part of the successful bid.

President Ruto pledged that Kenya would deliver a championship capable of meeting international expectations. He also thanked World Athletics for trusting the country with the historic event.

More broadly, the decision fits into World Athletics’ objective of expanding the sport’s reach around the world.

Since Sebastian Coe became president of the organisation in 2015, the World Championships have been staged in different regions. Qatar hosted the 2019 edition, followed by the United States in 2022 and Tokyo in 2025. Beijing is scheduled to host the 2027 championships.

A New chapter for African athletics

Meanwhile, Kenya already has experience organising international athletics competitions. Nairobi has hosted age-group world events, while Mombasa staged the World Cross Country Championships.

The World Athletics Relays were also held in Gaborone, Botswana, in May. The selection of Nairobi will therefore add another major event to Africa’s athletics calendar.

Coe said bringing the World Championships to Africa was important when the right host, proposal and conditions were in place.

London, Munich and Rome all have experience hosting the Olympic Games. London also staged the World Athletics Championships in 2017.

Nevertheless, Nairobi’s selection gives World Athletics an opportunity to take the competition to a new continent for the first time. UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner said London was disappointed after losing the bid.

The challenges ahead

Now, Kenya has three years to prepare for the biggest athletics event ever hosted on African soil.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will provide an important test. Authorities will have to demonstrate that they can efficiently manage large crowds at Kasarani Stadium.

The venue is roughly 30 minutes from Nairobi’s central business district by car. However, it currently has no direct rail connection.

Kenyan officials say their proposed transport arrangements have received positive feedback from World Athletics.

Still, crowd management remains an issue. Kasarani experienced overcrowding during Kenya’s matches at the 2024 African Nations Championship. The problem forced authorities to reduce the stadium’s capacity for some games.

Delays surrounding preparations for the 2027 Afcon have also created concerns about Kenya’s ability to complete major projects on schedule.

Funding and Ticket Sales

Financially, the Kenyan government will provide the main funding for the 2029 championships. Current estimates put the government’s contribution at around $78 million, with sponsorship expected to provide additional support.

A presidential election is scheduled for next year. However, officials involved in the bid say the financial commitment will remain valid even if a new government takes office.

They argue that the agreement with World Athletics is legally binding and will have to be respected by any future administration.

Another challenge will be ticket prices. Organisers will need to make tickets affordable for local fans while also ensuring that the stadiums attract large crowds.

Kenya’s experience with the 2017 Under-18 World Championships showed the difficulty. Tickets initially cost 200 Kenyan shillings, about $1.15, but attendance remained low until entry was made free.

By comparison, World Athletics generated $522 million in revenue from the 2025 championships in Tokyo. Around 619,000 tickets were sold during the nine-day competition.

London set an even higher attendance record in 2017, selling approximately 705,000 tickets.

Choosing Nairobi over London means World Athletics is prioritising expansion into a new market rather than returning to a city with an established record of ticket sales.

Attendance will therefore be closely watched, particularly after relatively low crowds were recorded during the 2019 championships in Doha.

Kenyan organisers remain confident that Kasarani Stadium can be filled throughout the competition. They believe early ticket sales will help attract spectators to both morning and evening sessions.

Doping Concerns Remain

Finally, Kenya will also face scrutiny over doping. The country has dealt with several doping cases involving athletes in recent years.

The Athletics Integrity Unit has already banned 11 Kenyan athletes in 2026 alone.

The challenge for Kenya will now be to meet its organisational commitments while protecting the credibility of its athletics programme.

Ultimately, Nairobi 2029 represents a major milestone for African athletics. Kenya has secured the opportunity to host the first World Athletics Championships on the continent.

The next three years will determine whether the country can turn its successful bid into a well-organised global championship.

Source: bbc.com