Sebastian Coe discussed Kenya’s championship preparations with President William Ruto in Eldoret.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says President William Ruto pledged support as Kenya prepares to host Africa’s first World Athletics Championships.
Nairobi 2029 preparations have secured full government backing, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said after meeting President William Ruto. The two met at Eldoret State Lodge on Wednesday evening to discuss Kenya’s hosting plans.
Speaking at Eldoret International Airport, Coe said Ruto pledged to support the federation’s teams throughout preparations. Both leaders also agreed to coordinate their efforts to deliver the World Athletics Championships.
Coe described the event as an opportunity for athletes and the wider Kenyan public. He also said hosting the championships in Africa for the first time marked a proud moment for the continent.
Government commits resources to Nairobi 2029
In a statement after their meeting, Ruto said Kenya would commit available resources to make the championships successful. He also thanked the World Athletics Council for granting Kenya the hosting rights.
The President said the championship venue, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, was undergoing major upgrades ahead of AFCON 2027. Further improvements will follow for the athletics competition, he added.
Coe said his visit centred on celebrating Nairobi’s selection while bringing together those responsible for delivering the event. However, he acknowledged the complexity of organising the championships and stressed the need for a united team.
Organising team takes shape
During the visit, Coe also met Athletics Kenya leaders, including federation president Jackson Tuwei, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya. He described their involvement as crucial to establishing the Nairobi29 Local Organising Committee.
Those discussions formed part of his engagement with the parties responsible for delivering the championships. Coe said the government and World Athletics would work together closely throughout preparations.
He also described the 2029 bidding contest as the most competitive since the championships began in 1983. Nairobi competed alongside Munich, London and Rome, which he characterised as outstanding candidates.
Munich will host the 2031 edition, while London staged the championships in 2017 and Rome hosted in 1987.
Training camps and wider African opportunities
Meanwhile, Coe expects more international athletes to use Kenya’s high-altitude training bases before the championships. He said competitors would want to adapt to local conditions ahead of the event.
Drawing on his own athletics career, Coe explained that acclimatisation forms an important part of championship preparation. Kenya’s training regions could therefore attract athletes preparing for Nairobi’s global competition.
Beyond Nairobi 2029, Coe said World Athletics remained committed to expanding competition opportunities across Africa. The federation is also discussing a possible African circuit with national federations across the continent.
He highlighted previous African events, including Nairobi’s World Under-20 Championships in 2021 and World Under-18 Championships in 2017. Other examples included the 2017 World Cross Country Championships in Kampala and the recently concluded World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
