Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has commended the sustained investment and collaboration between the government and Athletics Kenya that culminated in the country securing the hosting rights for the 2029 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi.
Mvurya said the successful bid was a result of deliberate efforts to strengthen athletics, improve sporting infrastructure, nurture talent, and build Kenya’s capacity to host major international competitions.
Speaking on the hosting rights, the CS said the achievement demonstrated the confidence that World Athletics has placed in Kenya’s ability to deliver a world-class sporting event.
“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 Mvurya.
He noted that Kenya’s hosting credentials had been strengthened by the successful staging of the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021.
According to Mvurya, the two championships provided valuable organizational experience and demonstrated the country’s ability to host athletes, officials, media, and spectators from across the world.
“Having successfully hosted the world’s emerging athletics talent at the U18 and U20 levels, we are now progressing to the highest stage—welcoming the world’s elite athletes to the Home of Champions in 2029,” he said.
The CS said the award comes at a time when the government, under the leadership of President William Ruto, is undertaking major investments in sporting infrastructure, including the development and modernization of stadiums across the country.
He said the government was investing in 33 stadium projects, alongside the renovation of existing facilities, to enhance Kenya’s capacity to host international sporting events.
The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which will play a central role in the 2029 Championships, is undergoing renovation and modernization, including improvements to its athletics track and associated competition facilities.
The upgrades are intended to provide an international-standard venue for elite athletics and strengthen the country’s preparations for the global championships.
The CS also highlighted the development of the 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City, which is expected to play a key role in Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON PAMOJA), which Kenya is co-hosting with Uganda and Tanzania.
He said the ongoing investments would progressively strengthen the country’s ability to deliver major sporting events while providing modern facilities for athletes and sports enthusiasts.
Mvurya emphasised that the government’s investment in sporting facilities was not solely aimed at hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships but at building a sustainable sporting ecosystem that would benefit generations of athletes.
He said improved infrastructure would provide Kenyan athletes with better training and competition facilities at home, strengthen grassroots talent development, and attract more international competitions.
“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,” said Mvurya.
Mvurya added that hosting the championships would create opportunities in tourism, hospitality, broadcasting, technology, merchandising, and the creative economy.
The CS said the event would also provide an opportunity for Kenya to leverage its reputation as a producer of world-class athletes to promote sports tourism, attract investment, and create employment opportunities for young people.
Mvurya said the 2029 Championships would enable Kenya to transform its long-standing success in athletics into wider economic and sporting benefits.
He noted that the country’s reputation as the Home of Champions had been built over generations through the achievements of its athletes in international competitions.
“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,” he said.
The CS lauded Athletics Kenya and other partners for their contribution to securing the hosting rights, saying the achievement reflected the importance of collaboration between government and sports stakeholders in advancing Kenya’s sporting ambitions.
The 2029 World Athletics Championships will bring together elite athletes from across the globe, providing Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its athletics heritage, sporting facilities, and tourism potential.
By Anita Omwenga (Mygov)
