Photo via BBC Sport

How Kenya won its bid for 2029 World Athletics Championships

Nairobi has secured the hosting rights for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, edging out competing offers from London and Rome to become the inaugural African host city. World Athletics head Lord Coe revealed the outcome in Budapest, praising Kenya's proposal as both deeply moving and persuasive, while Germany's Munich was chosen to organize the 2031 competition.

The milestone was warmly celebrated by Kenyan President William Ruto, who emphasized that the triumph honors the legacy of homegrown competitors across eras. Boasting 72 World Championship titles—a tally second solely to the United States—along with 38 Olympic golds, the East African power recently concluded the 2025 Tokyo games in second place with seven golds, highlighted by Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon finishing first and second in the women's 5,000m.

Coe also highlighted prominent figures such as bid campaigner Eliud Kipchoge, David Rudisha, and Kipyegon for their role in defining track and field history.

Key to reversing Kenya's failed 2025 bid were significant infrastructure investments and a remarkably engaged public. Bid official Barnaba Korir noted that organizers resolved earlier logistical shortcomings by committing to revamp Nairobi's 48,000-seat Kasarani Stadium, a site also scheduled for action when Kenya stages the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania.