Kenya: First World Athletics Championships to be held in Africa

Kenya has secured the hosting rights for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the global biennial event will be staged on African soil. The championship will take place at the iconic Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani in September 2029, just three years from now. Barnaba Korir, an AK executive committee member and member of the bidding committee, reveals that Kenya learned valuable lessons from its previous unsuccessful bid for the 2025 championships.

The bidding team, led by Ibrahim Hussein, convinced World Athletics of Kenya's potential to host the event. The next step for Kenya is to prove its financial commitment to World Athletics and set aside funds for the formation of a local organising committee (LOC). World Athletics officials will visit Kenya to assess preparations and ensure the country meets all the set standards ahead of the championships.

Kenya boasts of hosting successful World Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 events in 2017 and 2021, respectively, at Kasarani Stadium. The country is also confident of staging a successful championship following its strong performance in previous editions, including winning the overall title at home in 2015. Kenyan athletes will participate in a total of 49 track and field events, with a focus on sprints and field events, disciplines in which Kenya has historically struggled.

The hosting of the championship is expected to significantly boost Kenya's tourism prospects, making it the first African city in the competition's 47-year history to host the event.