World will see where Kenyans begin the races

Beatrice Chebet celebrates after winning the women's 10000m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 13, 2025. [AFP]

For decades, the world has come to Kenya to train alongside greatness. In 2029, it will come to experience where that greatness is born.

This is a historic moment not only because Kenya has won the right to host the biggest event in global athletics, but because Africa will, for the first time, host the World Athletics Championships. It is recognition of Kenya’s place in world sport and of the generations of athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who have built one of the most remarkable athletics traditions in history.

Kenya has never needed to prove its credentials on the track. From Kipchoge Keino and David Rudisha to Faith Kipyegon, Ferdinand Omanyala and Beatrice Chebet, generations of Kenyan athletes have shaped the history of the sport and earned the country’s place among the world’s athletics powerhouses. Yet championships are not won, nor hosted, on medals alone. Behind every record broken and every podium finish is a network of coaches, families, communities and institutions working together to nurture talent and create the conditions for success. Kenya’s achievements in athletics are the product of decades of commitment, sacrifice and collective belief. That is the foundation upon which Nairobi 2029 now stands.

This is an opportunity to showcase far more than our ability to stage a world-class event. It is a chance to reveal the people, places and values that have produced generations of champions. From training camps in the Rift Valley to communities that have supported athletes for decades, the championships will shine a light on the character, discipline and resilience that sit at the heart of Kenya’s athletics story.

Nairobi enters this moment with an advantage that cannot be built into a stadium or measured in infrastructure alone. Athletics is woven into Kenya’s national identity. Few countries have a deeper connection to the sport. From school competitions and community races to Olympic podiums and world records, athletics occupies a unique place in our national consciousness. This achievement is also the result of years of deliberate effort. Kenya has steadily built the experience, capability and reputation required to host major international competitions. From the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007 to the World U18 Championships in Nairobi in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021, each event strengthened confidence in Kenya’s ability to deliver on the global stage. Nairobi 2029 is not the product of chance. It reflects preparation, ambition and consistent execution over many years.

This milestone reflects the vision and determination of Athletics Kenya and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, whose leadership helped turn a bold ambition into a historic achievement. It is equally a defining moment for Africa.

We are also witnessing a wider shift within Africa. Cape Town hosted the continent’s first Netball World Cup in 2023; Kigali hosted the UCI Road World Championships in 2025; Dakar will stage Africa’s first Olympic event in 2026 and now, Nairobi will belong in that succession. For generations, the continent has produced some of the greatest athletes the world has ever known. Yet athletics’ premier championship had never been staged on African soil. Nairobi 2029 changes that. It acknowledges not only Africa’s contribution to the sport, but also its ability to host, convene and deliver at the highest level.

For Absa, this moment carries special significance. Over the last decade, we have invested close to Sh2 billion in Kenya’s sports landscape because we believe in the power of sport to create opportunity, unite communities and change lives. Through the Absa Kip Keino Classic and the Absa Sirikwa Classic Cross Country, we have supported platforms that showcase Kenyan talent while helping position the country among the world’s leading athletics destinations. These investments have largely been about supporting athlete development, strengthening the foundations of sport and helping create an environment where talent can flourish. We are proud to have partnered with Athletics Kenya and many others who share a commitment to the future of athletics in Kenya.

The lasting impact of Nairobi 2029 will be reflected in the young people inspired to dream bigger, the opportunities available to future athletes and the investments that strengthen sport long after the final medal has been awarded. We look forward to welcoming the world to Nairobi and showing why Kenya has always been the home of champions.

-The writer is Director, Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Absa Bank Kenya