Ruto hails Kenya’s 2029 World Athletics Championships hosting rights

World Athletics has announced Nairobi as the host city for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking a significant milestone for African athletics. The Kenyan capital was selected by the World Athletics Council during its meeting in Budapest on September 14-15. Munich will host the subsequent championships in 2031.

Nairobi's selection is a historic moment for the continent, as it will be the first time Africa hosts the full World Athletics Championships. The event will center around Kasarani Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovations ahead of Kenya's co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nairobi has solidified its case as a major athletics hub, having hosted the Kip Keino Classic, a leading one-day athletics meeting in Africa since 2020, and the 2017 World U18 Championships. World Athletics research indicates that 68% of Kenyans have a high interest in athletics, compared to a global average of 39%, and the sport is Kenya's second-most-followed sport behind football.

Kenya has a rich track record in athletics, being the second-most-successful nation in World Athletics Championships history and finishing second in the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, with seven gold medals and 11 medals overall. Renowned athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha, Vivian Cheruiyot, and Kip Keino have emerged from Kenya.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi's bid as compelling, emphasizing that the decision represents a historic moment for the sport. He highlighted Nairobi's strong commitment to athletics and the right circumstances for the championships to come to Africa. Coe stated that Nairobi has demonstrated that this is the moment for the World Athletics Championships to be hosted on the continent.