According to a statement issued by Athletics Kenya (AK) and obtained by Flashscore, the submission places the Kenyan capital firmly in the running for the global selection process.
Kenya will face competition from London, Rome, and Munich, who have already shown their interest to stage the championships.
Kenya to stage world-class global event
“The government has committed its full support to the bid and will provide the organisational framework, security measures and modern infrastructure required to stage a world-class global event,” the Nairobi Bid Committee said in a statement on Monday.
Kenya has put forward a robust, government-backed bid that is expected to serve as a strong, historic push for the African continent. If successful, the selection of Nairobi would mark the first time the senior World Athletics Championships are held in Africa.
Kenya has hosted major global athletics events in the past, namely the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007, the World Athletics Under-18 Championships in Nairobi in 2017 and World Athletics Under-20 Championships, also in Nairobi, in 2021.
Kenya also hosts annual World Athletics Gold Label events, namely the Kip Keino Classic track and field meeting in Nairobi and the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Championships in Uasin Gishu County.
Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The winning host cities for both the 2029 and 2031 championships will be announced by World Athletics after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary in September.
The World Championships were started in 1976 in response to the International Olympic Committee dropping the men’s 50 km walk from the Olympic programme for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, despite its constant presence at the games since 1932.
The IAAF chose to host its own world championship event, a month and a half after the Olympics. It was the first World Championships that the IAAF had hosted separately from the Olympic Games.
Kenya finishes second at World Athletics U20
Meanwhile, Kenya finished second place behind hosts, USA, as the 21st World Athletics U20 Championships wrapped up on Sunday evening at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
The Kenyan team, consisting of 23 athletes - 12 boys and 11 girls - achieved a total of 11 medals: four gold, three silver, and four bronze medals.
Kenya won both 1500m titles as Josephine Mancha claimed victory in the women's race before Wilson Chepkwech took the men’s gold.
Kenya's gold medalists included Wilson Chepkwech, Josephine Mancha (1500m), Frankline Kibet (3000m), and Emmanuel Kiprono (5000m).
David Kapaiko secured a silver medal in the 1500m event, while Emmanuel Lemiso and Captain Nehemiah Kipngeno also claimed silver in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m, respectively.
Caren Chepchirchir earned a bronze in the 1500m, with Nicholas Losiwareng and Co-captain Joyline Chepkemoi each taking bronze in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m.
The result was an improvement from the 2024 results in Lima, Peru, where it had placed fifth with three golds, three silvers, and one bronze.
