Kenya To Host 2029 World Athletics Championships In Historic African First

By Mongenge O’kebati

 Kenya is set to make history after being awarded the right to host the 2029 Senior World Athletics Championships, bringing the prestigious global competition to Africa for the first time.

The announcement has been welcomed as a major recognition of Kenya’s contribution to athletics and its position as one of the world’s leading athletics nations.

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen congratulated the team behind the successful bid, particularly Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei.

Murkomen said the hosting rights were a fitting acknowledgement of Kenya’s longstanding status as a sporting powerhouse.

The 2029 championships will give Kenya an opportunity to showcase its athletics heritage to a global audience while allowing the country to welcome some of the world’s best athletes to Nairobi.

The event is also expected to place greater focus on sports infrastructure and preparations to ensure Kenya can successfully stage one of athletics’ biggest international competitions.

For Kenyan athletes, the championships could provide a rare opportunity to compete for world titles before a home crowd, adding significance to an event that is already historic for the continent.

Kenya has for decades produced world-class athletes, particularly in middle- and long-distance running, and the award represents a chance to connect that sporting legacy with the responsibility of hosting the sport’s biggest names.

The successful bid is therefore being viewed not only as a victory for Kenya but also as an important moment for African athletics, with the continent finally set to host the senior World Athletics Championships.

Murkomen praised everyone who contributed to the bid, describing the achievement as the result of sustained efforts by government and athletics stakeholders.