Nairobi has officially submitted its formal application to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
This sets the Kenyan capital on course for a historic opportunity to bring the sport’s premier global showpiece to African soil for the first time.
The government-backed bid comes on the back of Kenya’s impressive performance at the 2026 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Oregon, United States, where the country came second overall.
If successful, Nairobi would make history by becoming the first African city to host the senior World Athletics Championships.
Kenya, who won senior World Athletics Championships in 2015 in Beijing, China, has presented a robust bid that has received full government backing, with authorities committing to provide the organisational framework, security arrangements and modern infrastructure required to stage a world-class event.
Nairobi faces strong competition from London (UK), Rome (Italy) and Munich (Germany) for the 2029 edition.
World Athletics is expected to announce the successful host cities for both the 2029 and 2031 championships after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, next month.
Kenya’s bid is built on a strong record of hosting international athletics competitions.
The country staged the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007, the African Athletics Championships at Nyayo National Stadium in 2010 and the World Athletics Under-18 Championships in Nairobi in 2017.
Nairobi also hosted the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in 2021.
Kenya also continues to stage annual World Athletics Gold Label events - the Kip Keino Classic track and field meeting in Nairobi and the Sirkwa Classic Cross Country Championships in Uasin Gishu County.
The latest bid therefore seeks to build on Kenya’s established reputation for organising major athletics events while giving Africa its first opportunity to host the senior global championships.
Kenya’s credentials were further underlined at the 2026 World Athletics U-20 Championships, which concluded in Oregon on Sunday.
Kenya collected four gold, three silver and four bronze medals to finish second overall behind hosts USA.
Emmanuel Kiprono won gold in the 3,000m, Wilson Chepkwech topped the men's 1,500m event, Josephine Sembeyo claimed the women’s 1,500m title, while Frankline Kibet struck gold in the 5,000m.
David Kapaiko (1,500m), Nehemiah Kipngeno (5,000m) and Emmanuel Lemiso (3,000m steeplechase) won silver.
Caren Chepchirchir (1,500m), Nicholas Kitum (3,000m steeplechase), Joyline Chepkemoi (5,000m) and Anatasha Cheptoo (3,000m steeplechase) completed Kenya’s medal haul with bronze.
The United States topped the medal standings with 12 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals.
In the African standings, Kenya led the continent ahead of sixth-placed Ethiopia, which won two gold, three silver and one bronze, while South Africa finished 10th overall with one gold, three silver and four bronze medals.
A successful Nairobi bid would crown Kenya’s long association with international athletics and open a new chapter by bringing the senior World Championships to Africa for the first time.
