President William Ruto has assured World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe that Kenya is fully committed to delivering a successful and world-class 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi. The assurance came during a high-level meeting at Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as the country begins preparations for one of the most significant sporting events in its history.

The meeting marked an important step in Kenya's journey towards hosting the global athletics showpiece, following Nairobi's successful bid in September 2026. The championships will be held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in September 2029, making it the first time Africa will host the senior World Athletics Championships. The 2029 World Athletics Championships will be a landmark event for Kenya and the entire African continent. For decades, African athletes have played a major role in international athletics, particularly in middle- and long-distance running. However, Africa has never hosted the senior outdoor World Athletics Championships.

The decision to award the event to Nairobi therefore represents a major step towards expanding the geographical reach of global athletics and recognising Africa's contribution to the sport.One of the main issues discussed during the meeting was the state of sporting infrastructure, particularly the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which will serve as the principal venue for the 2029 championships.

President Ruto explained that Kasarani is already undergoing major improvements ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. He said additional upgrades would be undertaken before the 2029 athletics competition to fulfil the government's commitments.The planned improvements are important because hosting a global athletics championship requires more than a running track and spectator stands. The venue must support the technical requirements of international track-and-field events, including facilities for athletes, officials, media personnel and spectators.

The wider preparations will also need to consider areas such as athlete preparation spaces, medical services, equipment handling, security, spectator movement and accessibility. These are essential planning considerations for a championship of this scale, although specific completion dates and the full scope of every upgrade will need to be confirmed by the responsible authorities.The 2029 championships are expected to place Nairobi at the centre of the international athletics calendar for nine days.

World Athletics President Coe described the competition as a major global event involving approximately 2,000 athletes and attracting a worldwide audience of around one billion people.

Such an audience presents Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its sporting achievements, cultural heritage, tourism attractions and capacity to host major international events.Kenya's successful bid builds on a long tradition of international athletics success.

The country has produced numerous Olympic and world champions, including Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha and Vivian Cheruiyot. Their achievements have helped establish Kenya as one of the world's leading athletics nations.

World Athletics has highlighted Kenya's exceptional contribution to the sport and its strong public interest in athletics as important elements of Nairobi's successful bid. Kenya also finished second on the medal table at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.While infrastructure and event organisation are central to the preparations, maintaining the integrity of competition will also be essential.

Kenya has faced significant challenges involving doping violations in athletics. These concerns have attracted international scrutiny and make anti-doping reforms an important part of the country's preparations for 2029.

During his visit, Coe acknowledged progress in Kenya's efforts to address doping and highlighted reforms, including increased government funding and the work of the Athletics Integrity Unit. He also stressed that the fight against doping requires continued vigilance. The assurance given by Ruto marks an important political commitment, but delivering a successful championship will require sustained work by several institutions.

The government will need to coordinate funding, infrastructure development, security arrangements and other public services. Sports administrators will need to work with World Athletics to meet technical requirements and establish a reliable competition programme.Beyond athletics, Nairobi 2029 could provide a boost to several sectors of the Kenyan economy.

The hospitality industry may benefit from visitors requiring accommodation, meals and other services. Airlines and transport providers could experience increased demand, while tourism operators may have opportunities to promote Kenya's wildlife destinations, cultural attractions and other travel experiences.

The preparations may also create work opportunities in construction, event management, communications, security, catering and technical services, depending on the scale and timing of projects undertaken.The preparations may also create work opportunities in construction, event management, communications, security, catering and technical services, depending on the scale and timing of projects undertaken.

Local businesses could benefit from supplying goods and services associated with the competition, while young people may gain experience through volunteering and event-related training.

Nevertheless, these outcomes are not automatic. The government and organisers will need to manage expenditure responsibly, provide opportunities for local businesses and ensure that investments create lasting value.

Planning should also consider the maintenance costs of upgraded sporting facilities after the event. Long-term benefits will be stronger if stadium improvements and other investments continue serving Kenyan athletes and communities after international visitors have left.The 2029 World Athletics Championships will offer Kenya an opportunity to demonstrate not only its sporting excellence but also its ability to organise a major international competition.

The successful hosting of previous events, including the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, provides useful experience. The Kip Keino Classic has also helped strengthen the country's position on the international athletics calendar.

However, hosting the senior championships will require preparations on a significantly broader scale.Kenya will need to meet international standards, coordinate multiple institutions and ensure that the experience of athletes, spectators, sponsors and broadcasters reflects the quality expected of the event.

The country must also demonstrate that it can deliver on the commitments made during the bidding process. The progress of Kasarani's upgrades, the effectiveness of anti-doping measures and the readiness of event operations will be important indicators of its preparedness.

The meeting in Eldoret was therefore an important early milestone, but the ultimate measure of success will be the quality of delivery in September 2029.