Kenya will become the first African country to host the World Athletics Championships after Nairobi was awarded the 2029 edition. The decision was made by the World Athletics Council on Tuesday, September 15, during its meeting in Budapest, Hungary. Nairobi won the bid after overcoming competition from Munich, London and Rome. Munich was selected to host the 2031 edition. Despite producing some of the world’s greatest track and field athletes, Kenya has never hosted the senior World Athletics Championships. Nairobi will stage the event at the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing major renovations ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and will serve as the main venue for the 2029 championships. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Kenya’s proposal as a compelling case for bringing the championships to Africa for the first time. “Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” Coe said. “Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country.” Kenya’s selection reflects both its long-standing athletics heritage and its success on the international stage. The country has won 72 World Championships gold medals and 38 Olympic gold medals, with much of its success coming in middle- and long-distance events. Kenya is currently the second-most successful nation in the history of the World Athletics Championships. It also finished second on the medal table at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall. Its athletics tradition has been shaped by generations of champions, including two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha, Kip Keino, Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe. Kipchoge was also among the prominent figures who supported Nairobi’s bid during the campaign. Experience behind the bid Kenya’s case was strengthened by its experience in hosting major international athletics events. Nairobi hosted the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships, while Mombasa staged the 2007 World Cross Country Championships. That experience, combined with plans to upgrade Kasarani Stadium, provided a strong foundation for Nairobi’s successful bid. Kenya’s strong domestic following for athletics was another factor. World Athletics research found that 68 percent of Kenyans surveyed had a high level of interest in athletics, compared with a global average of 39 percent. Athletics is also the second-most-followed sport in Kenya after football. World Athletics said Nairobi’s selection supports its goal of expanding the sport globally, with the championships set to reach Africa for the first time. “We continue to fulfil our mission of growing athletics worldwide,” Coe said.
