Sports

Nairobi Wins 2029 World Athletics Championships Bid Amid Doping Scrutiny

By Vivianne Wandera

Nairobi, Kenya – Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making it the first African city to stage the event. The decision was announced at the World Athletics Council meeting in Budapest on September 15, after a three‑year bid that also included London, Rome and Munich. Nairobi’s proposal highlighted the renovation of Kasarani Stadium ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, its experience hosting the 2017 World U18 Championships and the 2021 World U20 Junior Championships, and lessons learned from its unsuccessful 2025 bid that went to Tokyo.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the council received four strong bids and described Nairobi’s proposal as “compelling and emotional”. He added that Nairobi and Munich presented two equally exciting opportunities for the sport.

The championships will be held at Moi International Sports Stadium, known locally as Kasarani. Kenyan Member of Parliament Dan Wanyama, chair of the sports and culture committee, said the country has the experience and infrastructure to host the event, noting that the contractor is already on site and preparations have begun.

The announcement has been followed by questions about Kenya’s ability to host a large‑scale event amid ongoing doping concerns. Since the Athletics Integrity Unit was established in 2017, 318 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned for anti‑doping violations, with 136 still serving bans. In 2025 the World Anti‑Doping Agency found Kenya’s anti‑doping agency non‑compliant with the global code, but Kenya was removed from the compliance watchlist in 2026 after corrective measures. Recent bans of marathon world‑record holder Ruth Chepngetich and former half‑marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie have kept the issue in the spotlight.

Kenyan athletics fan Winston Omondi said criticism of Kenya was unfairly focused on the country, noting that many developed nations also have doping problems.

Beyond the stadium, Nairobi must ensure adequate training and warm‑up facilities, improve transport links, accommodation, athlete services, security, accreditation, broadcasting, medical care and the movement of thousands of athletes, officials, journalists and spectators. The city’s wider infrastructure, particularly traffic congestion and public transport, will also be scrutinised.

The 2029 championships represent a historic opportunity for Kenya and Africa, but the country will need to demonstrate that it can deliver a seamless experience for a global sporting event while maintaining the high standards expected of the sport’s flagship competition.