Kenya Wins 2029 World Athletics Championships: How Nairobi Beat London and Rome

Nairobi will make history in 2029 after Kenya won the right to host the World Athletics Championships, becoming the first African city to stage the global event.

Kenya beat London and Rome to secure the hosting rights, with Munich selected to host the 2031 edition. President William Ruto described the decision as the championships “coming home”, celebrating the role generations of Kenyan athletes have played in shaping global athletics.

The successful bid marks a major turnaround for Kenya after its unsuccessful attempt to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which ultimately went to Tokyo.

Why Kenya won

One of Kenya’s biggest advantages was its deep connection with athletics. The country is the second-most successful nation in World Championships history, with 72 gold medals, behind only the United States.

Kenya also has 38 Olympic gold medals, with the majority coming from middle- and long-distance running. Global stars including Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon and David Rudisha have helped cement the country’s reputation as an athletics powerhouse.

That passion extends beyond the athletes. World Athletics found that 68% of Kenyans surveyed had a high level of interest in athletics, compared with a global average of 39%. Athletics is also Kenya’s second-most-followed sport after football.

Kenya fixed a major weakness

Infrastructure was one of the biggest problems with Kenya’s previous bid.

This time, organisers presented an upgraded Kasarani Stadium, which will have a capacity of about 48,000 and is scheduled to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenya also presented its tourism and hospitality capacity, with Nairobi offering international hotels, conference facilities and the unique attraction of a national game park within the city.

President Ruto additionally provided financial and security guarantees as part of the successful bid.

The $78 million commitment

Winning the bid is only the beginning.

Kenya estimates that the government will contribute about $78 million to stage the 2029 championships, with sponsorship expected to provide additional funding.

The country will also have to demonstrate that it can manage transport, security, accommodation, ticketing and stadium operations on a much larger scale.

The 2027 AFCON will effectively provide an important test of Nairobi’s ability to move large numbers of spectators in and out of Kasarani Stadium.

There are already concerns to address. The stadium experienced overcrowding during some matches at the 2024 African Nations Championship, while delays surrounding preparations for AFCON have raised questions about Kenya’s readiness.

Can Kenya fill the stadium?

Attendance will be another major test.

World Athletics generated $522 million in revenue from Tokyo 2025, with about 619,000 tickets sold across nine days. London 2017 recorded a higher figure, selling 705,000 tickets.

Kenya will therefore have to balance affordability with revenue generation while ensuring local fans are not priced out of the event.

That will be particularly important because attendance at major athletics championships has not always been guaranteed. At the 2017 Under-18 World Championships in Nairobi, organisers eventually made entry free after low attendance.

Kenyan organisers, however, are confident Kasarani will be full throughout the 2029 championships.

A historic opportunity — and major pressure

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said bringing the championships to Africa was part of the organisation’s mission to grow the sport globally.

For Kenya, the event represents an opportunity to showcase its athletics culture, tourism industry and ability to host a major international sporting event.

But the country will also face scrutiny over infrastructure, transport, financing, ticket sales and anti-doping measures.

Kenya has faced a series of doping controversies in recent years, with 11 individuals banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit so far in 2026, adding another layer of pressure ahead of 2029.

The countdown has now begun.

Nairobi 2029 will not only be about Kenya's ability to produce world-class athletes. It will be a test of whether the country can successfully host the world’s biggest athletics championship on African soil for the first time.