City Stadium renovation stall: City Stadium's Sh87m facelift that never was

KRA's Barak Odhiambo, left, and John Ndirangu of Top Fry during KPL match at City stadium Nairobi on Saturday 11th April, 2014. Photo/Jonah Onyango.

Despite a promise by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to renovate Nairobi City Stadium at a cost of Sh87 million two months ago, nothing has been done.

In July, Kidero revealed the county government was looking to partner with a major donor to upgrade the country's oldest stadium.

He said then:"I can confirm that we have finalised plans to renovate this stadium with the donor contributing a significant amount of the required money and the county government topping up the rest to the tune of Sh87 million."

Kidero revealed that under the planned renovation, new terraces, dressing rooms and a parking lot would be built, and the worn out turf laid by world football governing body Fifa replaced with a new one.

Some of the renovations were to be done two years ago when Fifa laid the turf but lack of funds and commitment from the former Nairobi City Council saw nothing done.

The planned building of a new parking lot outside the stadium proved too costly considering that  thousands of hawkers who carry out business at the venue had to be relocated.

Even as the Nairobi County government drags its feet in renovating the stadium, at least one Kenyan Premier League club has complained about the poor state of the playing surface.

According to KCB coach Rishadi Shedu, the current turf is very dangerous to play on especially because it is not watered as frequently as it should be.

"The turf subjects players to injuries because no one bothers to water it. Players who train on the turf have to live with nasty injuries," he said.

Shedu said this is worsened when players use the wrong kind of boots on the turf.
FeverPitch, however, could not reach Kidero for comment when contacted. He neither picked his calls nor replied to a text message sent to him to comment on the matter.