President William Ruto has hailed Kenya’s historic victory to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi as a triumph for the generations of athletes who have made the nation synonymous with excellence on the global stage on both the track and the roads.
On Tuesday, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe made the landmark announcement that the World Championships will come to Africa for the first time, with Nairobi earning the rights to stage the 2029 edition following the 242nd meeting of the World Athletics Council in Budapest, Hungary.
The successful bid marks one of the most significant moments in Kenyan sporting history and only the fourth major global athletics event the country will host.
Kenya has previously hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi.
Nairobi beat rival bids from Rome, London and Munich, with the German city awarded the 2031 Championships. Ruto described the decision as a defining moment for both Kenya and the African continent.
“Our country has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African nation to stage the premier global athletics competition,” Ruto said.
Kenya had previously mounted an ambitious bid for the 2025 Championships but lost out to Tokyo, with infrastructure cited as a major stumbling block.
This time, the country’s transformed sporting landscape strengthened its case. The hosting rights come as Kenya completes the renovation of its flagship stadiums ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which it will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.
The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is undergoing a comprehensive structural overhaul, while the 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium has been constructed as one of the country’s flagship sporting venues. Ruto said the honour is a fitting reward for Kenya’s enduring dominance in global athletics.
“This is Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment and a victory for generations of athletes who made our nation synonymous with excellence on the track, on the road and cross country,” he said.
Kenya’s credentials at the World Championships are unrivalled on the continent. The nation sits second on the all-time medal table with 182 medals (72 gold, 60 silver and 50 bronze) behind only the United States, which leads with 469 medals. Ethiopia is sixth with 108 medals, while South Africa is 22nd with 28
The country’s golden era has extended from the roads to the track. Earlier this year, Sebastian Sawe etched his name into history as the first man to run a marathon in under two hours, clocking 1:59:40 in London.
Kenya also boasts an extraordinary collection of world record holders: Beatrice Chebet owns the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m records, Faith Kipyegon holds the 1,500m and mile marks, David Rudisha remains the men’s 800m record holder, Emmanuel Wanyonyi owns the 1,000m world record, Phanuel Koech holds the U20 1,500m record, while Beatrice Chepkoech still reigns over the 3,000m steeplechase.
The President congratulated the bid team spearheaded by Athletics Kenya, alongside the Ministry of Sports. “I congratulate our bid team, Athletics Kenya, the Ministry of Sports, Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, our athletes and everyone who worked tirelessly to deliver this historic feat.”
He pledged that Kenya would repay World Athletics’ faith by staging a championship worthy of the sport’s biggest stage. “We thank World Athletics for the confidence it has placed in Kenya. We will honour that confidence by delivering an unforgettable championship worthy of our athletes, our country and our continent.”
World Athletics president Coe threw his support behind Nairobi hosting an unforgettable championship. ”Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is the moment to supercharge the development of athletics in Kenya and Africa, leaving a compelling legacy that inspires a continent,” Coe said.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the announcement firmly cemented Kenya’s place at the heart of global athletics. “On behalf of the Kenyan Government, I convey our deepest appreciation to World Athletics and its Council for the confidence placed in our nation.”
“Today, the global athletics family has affirmed Kenya’s place at the heart of world athletics.”
Mvurya credited the successful bid to President Ruto’s commitment to developing sport and positioning Kenya as a global sporting powerhouse. “This achievement reflects the visionary leadership of His Excellency President William Ruto and his commitment to positioning Kenya as a global sporting powerhouse.”
“We accept the honour, and we want to promise the global community that Kenya will continue to be the Home of Champions in athletics.”
He added that the world would be arriving in a nation where running is woven into its identity. “The world will come to a country where running is more than a competition. It is a national story, and every generation believes the next world champion can come from Kenya.”
Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei called the successful bid a proud and historic milestone not only for Kenya, but for the global athletics fraternity. “This is a proud and historic moment for Kenya, for Africa and for the global athletics family. “We accept this responsibility with great humility and an even greater sense of commitment.”
Tuwei said Kenya’s reputation as the Home of Champions now allows the world to experience the country’s rich athletics heritage firsthand. “Kenya is known around the world as the Home of Champions. Our athletes have inspired generations through their performances on the track, on the roads and across the country’s many running trails.”
“Today, we have been allowed to bring the world’s greatest athletics championship to the home of so many champions.”
He said attention now turns from winning the bid to delivering a championship that sets a new global benchmark. “From this moment, our focus shifts to delivery. We will work closely with World Athletics to ensure that Kenya delivers a championship that meets the highest international standards and creates a lasting legacy for athletes, fans, young people and communities across the country.”
“We want Kenya 2029 to be more than a competition. We want it to be an experience that brings the world together, inspires the next generation and leaves a lasting impact on African athletics.”
