Presidential elections are scheduled for next year, but Korir is confident organisers will secure the “huge” and “legally binding” figure earmarked even if there is a change in government.
“Whatever the government assigns now will be observed by the next government. It is an international agreement,” he said.
Then comes ticketing, first to make sure the local population are not priced out and then to ensure the stands are filled.
The cheapest tickets for the Under-18 World Championships in 2017 were priced at 200 Kenyan shillings ($1.15, £1.14) but attendances were low until entry was made free.
World Athletics generated $522m in revenue from Tokyo 2025, with a total of 619,000 tickets sold over the nine days of competition, while London sold a record 705,000 tickets in 2017.
In passing up the opportunity of returning to the British capital, World Athletics has chosen expansion over guaranteed ticket sales, but attendances will be scrutinised – especially after the sparse numbers seen in the stands in Doha in 2019.
Korir, however, is confident the Kasarani Stadium “will be full” on “every day” of competition, including morning sessions, if sales begin early enough.
Meanwhile, Kenya has endured a spate of doping scandals in recent years, with 11 individuals banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit so far this year alone.
The pressure is now on the East African nation to deliver on its promises in the build-up to Nairobi 2029 and ensure the Championships pass off without any major issues.
Additional reporting by Ian Williams and Celestine Karoney.
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