Kenya enters race to host 2029 World Athletics Championships

Kenya has officially applied to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, said on Wednesday.

The CS revealed that all the loopholes that saw Kenya’s bid to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships fail will be sealed.

Murkomen said they will endeavour to present the best facilities for the championships upon the completion of the ongoing renovations at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani, and the Nyayo National Stadium.

The minister disclosed that they have engaged World Athletics experts, who will help them renovate the tracks at Kasarani and Nyayo upon the completion of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) that Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda in February next year.

“We are determined to put up modern facilities…we are competent and capable since we have the resources to make that happen and work,” said Murkomen after touring Athletics Kenya (AK) headquarters at Riadha House Wednesday.

2025 bid flop

AK President Jack Tuwei said that the application was forwarded to World Athletics in August, who discussed it before accepting the application.

Tuwei said that countries first put in applications to the World Athletics expressing their desire to host an event. If accepted, then they can officially put in their bids.

He revealed the formation of a team led by legendary distance former runner, Ibrahim Hussein to prepare Kenya's bid.

“Our application was accepted and put on the list of the countries that have also bid,” said Tuwei, adding that Kenya’s bid for the 2025 World Athletics Championships failed because of certain issues, particularly the infrastructure.

Tokyo, which hosted the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in 2021 because of Covid-19, will host the 2025 event.

Beijing will stage the 2027 showpiece. No African country has ever hosted the prestigious championships, which are held biannually. The inaugural event was held in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland.

“We didn’t give up and said we would still follow up and try again. We made a special request to the government and I thank the CS for accepting to pave the way for the application,” said Tuwei, adding that he is glad that the infrastructure they require is coming up with the construction and renovations of new stadia.

Sh192 million

Murkomen reiterated that the MISC and Nyayo National Stadium will be ready before the end of this year ahead of the CHAN tourney. 

 Engineers are in the process of putting up the canopy at Kasarani as they also work on the surface that had drainage, soil mixer, and level challenges.

“We have brought in the Confederation of Africa Football (Caf) experts from Europe to help out,” said Murkomen, adding that a similar technology will be used at the 50,000 seater Talanta Sports City arena at the Jamhuri Sports Complex.

Murkomen said that his ministry will triple funding for the Talanta Hela Initiative, especially for youth camps across the disciplines in athletics, football, and basketball among others.

The government invested Sh192 million in the setting up of 42 athletics camps in December 2023.

However, Murkomen said it’s his dream to see these camps spread to marginalised areas like Mombasa, Marsabit, and Isiolo where talent is enormous.

“What disturbs me is marginalisation. I can't believe areas like Marsabit can't produce sports people and that the entire North Eastern has no stadium, while there were no plans to build one. I want to change that mindset,” said Murkomen.

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