Kenya submits bid to host the 2029 World Championship

Kenya has submitted the bid to the World Athletics (WA) for the rights to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.

Speaking while on a courtesy visit to Athletics Kenya (AK) headquarters on Wednesday 6, 2024, the Cabinet Secretary, Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen said that  AK, the local governing body for Athletics had submitted the bid and the government is ready to support the initiative.

The CS said that the ministry is working on putting in place the necessary requirements that would meet the standards of hosting such a magnitude event.

“We are working on renovations at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium to make sure that they conform to the international standards in readiness for the bid,” said Murkomen.

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Murkomen said that the country has what it takes to host the event after successfully hosting of the World U18 and 20 Championships in Nairobi.

The Sports minister was hosted by AK president Jackson Tuwei who said that they have put up a stronger bid after losing the 2025 hosting rights to Tokyo and was optimistic of the country winning the bid.

After losing the rights of hosting, the WA selected Tokyo to host its World Championships in 2025, with the Japanese capital trouncing Poland and Singapore who were also on the fighting slots.

Lord Sebastian Coe, the WA president said; “Within an extremely strong field of candidates to host the World Athletics Championships 2025, Tokyo offered a compelling bid.

“I hope this will be a shining light for Japan as they celebrate 100 anniversary of the Japanese Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) in 2025, by bringing world-class event back to the people,” Coe concluded.