Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, marking the first time the sport’s flagship track and field event will be staged in Africa.
World Athletics announced Nairobi’s selection on 15 September 2026, following its 242nd Council Meeting in Budapest, Hungary. The successful bid beat competing proposals from London, Rome and Munich for the 2029 edition, with Munich subsequently awarded the 2031 championships. Exact dates for Nairobi 2029 are yet to be confirmed.
For Kenya, the championship represents an opportunity to translate its reputation as an athletics powerhouse into wider economic, tourism and sporting benefits. Its success, however, will depend on the country’s ability to deliver a well-organised event and ensure that investment produces lasting value.
Kenya has built a formidable record in international athletics, producing champions such as Faith Kipyegon, David Rudisha, Beatrice Chebet and Eliud Kipchoge. The country has won 72 gold medals at the World Athletics Championships, underlining its standing among the sport’s leading nations.
Kenya also has experience hosting major international competitions. Nairobi staged the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021 at Kasarani, providing a foundation for preparations for the senior event.
The significance of 2029 extends beyond Kenya. Bringing the championships to Africa will give the continent an opportunity to showcase its athletes, organisational capacity and enthusiasm for athletics to a global audience.
The championships could create opportunities across hospitality, transport, food services, retail and event management. International athletes, officials, media and spectators are likely to generate demand for accommodation, restaurants and local transport.
Small hotels, guesthouses, short-term rental operators, matatu operators and digital taxi services could benefit from increased visitor numbers, particularly around Kasarani and other parts of Nairobi. Vendors and businesses selling Kenyan sportswear, crafts and locally made products may also find new customers.
However, these gains are not automatic. Their scale will depend on visitor numbers, spending patterns, procurement decisions and how effectively local businesses prepare to serve international visitors. Clear opportunities for Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprises to supply goods and services will be important if the economic benefits are to reach beyond major sponsors and established businesses.
Kasarani is undergoing major redevelopment ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania, and the 2029 championships. The stadium improvements are expected to provide a foundation for hosting both competitions. World Athletics has identified the ongoing overhaul of the venue as a key component of Nairobi’s successful bid.
The long-term value of this investment will depend on whether the facilities are maintained and used effectively after the event. A modernised stadium could support future international competitions, domestic athletics meetings, training programmes and other sporting activities.
The government has pledged its support for delivering the championships, including meeting the necessary financial and operational commitments. Transparent procurement, cost control and accountability will be important in ensuring that public investment delivers value for money.
Kenya’s performance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo offers a strong backdrop to the home event. The team won seven gold medals and 11 medals overall, finishing second behind the United States in the medal table.
Competing in front of a home crowd could provide Kenyan athletes with a powerful source of motivation while giving young people an opportunity to watch the world’s best competitors in person.
But inspiration alone will not produce future champions. Sustained investment in grassroots athletics, accessible training facilities, qualified coaches, athlete welfare and anti-doping education will be necessary to develop talent beyond 2029.
The event could also create temporary employment in hospitality, security, logistics, event production and other services. Training programmes that equip young Kenyans with practical skills could help them benefit from these opportunities and apply that experience to future events.
The 2029 World Athletics Championships will be a defining moment for Kenya and African athletics. Yet the measure of success should extend beyond the competition itself, the medals won or the international attention generated.
For ordinary Kenyans, the lasting benefits will depend on whether local businesses gain meaningful commercial opportunities, whether jobs and skills development extend beyond the event, and whether upgraded facilities remain accessible and useful to athletes and communities.
Kenya has secured the opportunity to host the world’s leading track and field athletes on African soil for the first time. Delivering the championships successfully – and turning that achievement into sustainable economic and sporting benefits – will determine the true legacy of Nairobi 2029.
