2029 World Athletics Championships: Ruto promises "all resources" for the first World Championships in Africa

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and Kenyan Head of State William Ruto met in Eldoret to finalize the conditions for hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi, the first in history to be held on African soil, the global governing body announced on October 15, 2026.

Nairobi was designated as the host city on September 15, 2026, following a World Athletics Council meeting held in Budapest. Four bids were competing for the 2029 and 2031 editions: Nairobi, Munich, London, and Rome. Kenya secured 2029, and Munich 2031. Sebastian Coe acknowledged at the time that the decision had "not been easy" and described the Kenyan bid as compelling, according to Europe 1.

Funding, anti-doping, stadium: the three key areas

The meeting in Eldoret, Coe's first visit to Kenya since the bid was awarded, focused on the requirements essential for the event's success: government financial commitments, anti-doping efforts, and stadium preparation. "I give my personal commitment and that of the government of Kenya to deploy all possible resources," said William Ruto, as quoted by World Athletics. The Kenyan president assured that all obligations would be met and wants the organization of the event to be treated as a national priority.

World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon accompanied Coe. The delegation also met with Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya, Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei—who also serves as a vice-president of World Athletics—and Ibrahim Hussein, who chaired the Nairobi 29 bid committee.

Kasarani, the centerpiece of the project

The selected venue is the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, which is already undergoing renovations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that Kenya is co-hosting, and which must be further improved for 2029. Sebastian Coe has asked the organizers to aim for a full stadium every evening. Nairobi relies on real experience: the 2017 World U18 Championships, the 2021 World U20 Championships, and the Kip Keino Classic. According to World Athletics studies, Kenya is the most passionate athletics market among those measured globally.

The 2029 event will take place between Beijing 2027 and Munich 2031. For a continent that has provided middle-distance and marathon champions for decades without ever having hosted the premier competition, the stakes go beyond logistics: it is about proving that Africa can host the major events for which it fills the podiums. The commitments announced in Eldoret must now be translated into budgets and completed construction projects.