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2029 World Championships: Mvurya discloses efforts that secured Nairobi hosting rights
15th September, 2026 06:48 PM
Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has credited sustained government investment and collaboration with Athletics Kenya for Kenya’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi.
The decision was reached during the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest on September 14 and 15, 2026, with Munich in Germany chosen to stage the 2031 championships.
The landmark decision will see the global championships make their first appearance on African soil in 2029 before returning to Germany two years later, with Munich’s Olympic Stadium set to provide the backdrop for the 2031 edition.
Reacting to the news on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Mvurya said the award was the outcome of years of investment in sports infrastructure, athlete development and the country’s ability to stage major international competitions.
“This achievement did not happen by chance. It is the culmination of considerable effort, time and investment by the Government, Athletics Kenya and our partners. We have deliberately built Kenya’s capacity and credibility as a host of major international sporting events, and the confidence placed in us by World Athletics validates that journey,” said CS Mvurya.
Kenya has previously hosted major World Athletics events, including the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021.
According to Mvurya, the two championships gave Kenya valuable experience in organising global competitions while demonstrating its ability to provide suitable facilities and services for athletes, officials, media and spectators.
“Having successfully hosted the world’s emerging athletics talent at U18 and U20 level, we are now progressing to the highest stage, welcoming the world’s elite athletes to the Home of Champions in 2029,” he said.
The hosting rights come as the government continues with a major programme to upgrade sporting infrastructure across the country.
Mvurya said the government is investing in 33 stadium projects while also modernising existing sporting facilities in preparation for major international competitions.
The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is expected to play a central role during the 2029 championships and is currently undergoing renovation and modernisation.
The works include the redevelopment of the athletics track and other competition facilities aimed at providing an international-standard venue for elite athletes.
The government is also constructing the 60,000-capacity Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City. The facility is expected to play a key role in Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Mvurya said the infrastructure programme is intended to deliver benefits beyond the 2029 championships by improving training and competition opportunities for Kenyan athletes while creating a platform for the country to attract more international sporting events.
“Our investment is not for one tournament. We are building a sporting ecosystem that will serve generations. The facilities we are developing today will nurture tomorrow’s champions, attract international events, create economic opportunities for our young people and strengthen Kenya’s position as a global sporting destination,” CS Mvurya added.
The Cabinet Secretary further noted that hosting the World Athletics Championships could help Kenya turn its long-standing reputation as a producer of elite athletes into broader economic opportunities.
He said the championships are expected to boost sports tourism while creating opportunities in sectors such as hospitality, broadcasting, technology, merchandising and the wider creative economy.
Kenya has produced some of the world’s most successful distance runners for decades, with athletes dominating major international championships and road and track events.
Mvurya said the 2029 championships would therefore represent an opportunity for Kenya to move beyond producing athletes for global competitions and establish itself as a destination capable of hosting the world’s biggest athletics events.
“For generations, Kenya has taken its champions to the world. Through these investments, we are creating the infrastructure and capacity for the world to come to Kenya. In 2029, global athletics comes to the Home of Champions,”Mvurya added.
