Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African country to stage the sport’s flagship global competition.
World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday, 15 September, following its Council meeting in Budapest. Munich was awarded the 2031 edition, while Beijing is already preparing to host the championships in 2027.
The decision is a major victory for Kenya and a landmark moment for African sport. Despite producing generations of world and Olympic champions, Africa has never hosted the senior World Athletics Championships since the competition began in 1983.
According to the official World Athletics announcement, Nairobi and Munich were chosen following one of the strongest bidding contests in the championship’s history.
London and Rome were among the cities that missed out during the process.
Nairobi’s successful return
Nairobi had previously sought to host the 2025 championships, but that edition was awarded to Tokyo.
The Kenyan capital returned with a stronger proposal for 2029, supported by its growing experience in organising major international athletics events. Nairobi hosted the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021.
It has also established the Kip Keino Classic as one of Africa’s leading international one-day athletics meetings.
Events in 2029 are expected to be held at the Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing extensive renovation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
World Athletics said Nairobi’s proposal combined operational planning, financial guarantees, stadium redevelopment and strong public enthusiasm for the sport.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s submission as “a compelling and emotional bid” and said bringing the championships to Africa would be historic.
“Kenya is one of the great athletics nations,” he added, according to the governing body.
A country built around athletics
Kenya is one of the most successful countries in the history of international athletics, particularly in middle-distance, long-distance and road events.
Its celebrated athletes include Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, David Rudisha, Hellen Obiri, Vivian Cheruiyot, Paul Tergat and Kip Keino.
World Athletics said Kenya is the second-most-successful nation in the history of the championships. It also finished second on the medal table at the 2025 edition in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.
Research conducted by the governing body found that 68 per cent of Kenyans surveyed had a high level of interest in athletics, compared with a global average of 39 per cent.
Reuters reported that the Nairobi championships will be staged in September, following the same scheduling approach planned for Beijing in 2027 and Munich in 2031.
A victory for Africa
The decision gives Africa the opportunity to host the world’s leading track and field athletes on home soil and could encourage further investment in sporting infrastructure across the continent.
It is also significant for African communities in the United Kingdom and across the diaspora, many of whom have followed and supported Kenyan and other African athletes at major championships around the world.
London’s unsuccessful bid adds a clear UK dimension to the decision. However, Nairobi’s selection represents more than the victory of one city. It brings one of global sport’s most important events to Africa for the first time.
The 2029 championships will now test Kenya’s ability to convert its outstanding athletics tradition into the organisation of a world-class global event.
