Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya (centre) with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (second left) with other Athletics Kenya officials in Tokyo on. September 20,2025/XSports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya Saturday held high-level talks with World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe in Tokyo, where he affirmed Kenya's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
Mvurya, in a statement, disclosed that Kenya will formally submit its bid early next month.
The discussions, he said, was on preparations and support required to present a strong, competitive bid.
"Held an engagement with Lord Sebastian Coe the World Athletics President in Tokyo today. We deliberated on Kenya's interest in hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championship," he said.
If successful, Kenya would become the first African nation to host the World Athletics Championships, a biennial event staged every two years.
The last edition was held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2023, while the 2025 Championships will be in Tokyo, Japan, followed by Beijing, China, in 2027.
World Athletics invited bids for the 2029 and 2031 editions in June, with interested countries required to demonstrate adequate sporting infrastructure, government backing, transport and accommodation capacity, as well as strong public support.
Member federations and host institution stakeholders interested in hosting or receiving more information about staging either of the events were asked to consult the World Athletics Championships 2029 and 2031 bid guide before completing and returning the bid pre-qualification form.
The pre-qualification form submission deadline for both events is October 1, 2025.
During his visit, the CS also took time to meet with Team Kenya athletes participating in the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
He conveyed the admiration and gratitude of Kenyans, praising the athletes for their performance and commitment on the global stage.
“Our athletes continue to embody the spirit of Kenya as they fly our flag high. Their resilience, discipline, and unmatched determination remain an inspiration to the nation,” he said.
Kenya’s strong showing so far at the championships, Mvurya noted, is anchored on sacrifice, talent, and hard work, which has consistently cemented the country’s reputation as the home of champions.
“As we look ahead to the remaining races, we remain united in cheering on our athletes, confident they will continue to elevate Kenya’s name and inspire generations,” he added.
