By Robert Mutasi 
President William Ruto has assured World Athletics that Kenya will fulfil its hosting obligations and deliver a successful 2029 World Athletics Championships, with preparations focusing on stadium upgrades and efforts to protect clean sport.
Ruto gave the assurance on Wednesday, October 14, when he met World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe at the Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County. The meeting was their first official engagement since Kenya secured the rights to host the global athletics competition.
The President said the government was committed to providing the infrastructure and other resources required to stage the championships, which will bring thousands of athletes, officials and spectators to Nairobi.
“The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, the venue of the 2029 World Athletics Championships, is undergoing major improvements ahead of AFCON 2027 that Kenya is co-hosting with East African partner states Uganda and Tanzania,” Ruto said.
He added that further improvements would be undertaken before the athletics championships to meet the country’s commitments to World Athletics.
The Kasarani complex is being upgraded ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. The government plans to use the ongoing improvements as part of the preparations for the 2029 competition.
The championships will be a historic occasion for Kenya and the African continent. Nairobi was selected to host the event in September 2026, making it the first African city to stage the World Athletics Championships.
Kenya beat competing bids from Rome and London, strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading athletics nations.