Opinion: What hosting the World Champs means for Kenya and its athletes

• With Nairobi designated as the host for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, it becomes the first African city to stage the senior global event.

Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium on July 21, 2025 after undergoing renovations in preparation for hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). These renovations include a new canopy, upgraded lighting systems, improved playing field and track surfaces, revamped seating, and enhanced facilities. Photo/Sportpicha

Kenya’s greatest athletic milestone might not be the next gold medal it claims, it could be the transformational path forged between now and 2029.

With Nairobi designated as the host for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, it becomes the first African city to stage the senior global event.

This historic decision places a long-standing titan of track at the centre of the global stage, creating an opportunity whose impact could extend far beyond the podium.

For Kenyan athletes, the appeal is immediate: competing for world titles on home soil eliminates gruelling travel schedules and foreign environments. Yet the deeper value lies in the long-term infrastructure built before the first starter's pistol fires.

Rather than settling for a surface-level makeover of the main stadium, Kenya must prioritize enduring upgrades—modernizing training tracks, gym facilities, sports medicine, rehabilitation centres, and specialized nutrition programs.

Crucially, this investment should extend into disciplines where the nation has traditionally lagged. While Kenya’s dominance in distance running from the 800m up to the marathon remains unmatched, Nairobi 2029 serves as a hard deadline to develop sprint, jump, and throw programmes.

The home-field advantage also brings distinct challenges. Competing before a passionate home crowd carries immense pressure, meaning mental conditioning must be elevated to a core component of elite preparation rather than a secondary consideration.

Financially, the influx of global media, sponsors, and tourism should directly enrich the athletes, ensuring their economic value extends beyond standard performance bonuses.

Furthermore, hosting the world requires robust anti-doping education, rigorous testing, and transparent athlete support to safeguard the credibility of the sport locally and globally.

The true legacy of Nairobi 2029 will be judged long after the closing ceremony. If Kenya emerges with world-class facilities, comprehensive athlete support, expanded discipline participation, and a sustainable talent pipeline, the event will yield a lasting return.

Without those structural shifts, it will remain merely a memorable tournament rather than a watershed moment.