'We are a great sporting nation' - Kenya president

What the report says

Kenyan President William Ruto has welcomed Nairobi’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, describing the outcome as evidence of Kenya’s status as a major sporting nation. The BBC Africa report says the capital beat out London for the event, marking a significant international athletics win for the country.

The decision matters because the World Athletics Championships are one of the sport’s biggest global competitions, and hosting them can bring prestige, tourism and investment in sporting infrastructure. For Kenya, which has long been associated with elite middle- and long-distance running, the award also reinforces its profile in international track and field.

The BBC’s coverage highlights Ruto’s public reaction to the bid success but gives limited detail about the voting process or the wider presentation used to secure the event. As a general background point, host-city awards of this kind are typically made by international federation members after a competitive selection process, though that specific procedure is not described in the supplied text.

The report places the announcement in the context of a contest between Nairobi and London, with Nairobi emerging as the chosen host for 2029. No further terms, costs or logistical arrangements were provided in the available material.