Despite talent glut, Kenyan stadia is in poor state

Renovation of Kasarani stadium pitch in progress in Nairobi on February 16, 2018. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

Kasarani Stadium to host World Under-20 Athletics Championships next year.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration pledged to build five international when it assumed office in 2013.

The projects were to be completed within the first term but it never came to pass. In 2017, they promised seven stadiums in seven counties and, worse still, there is a snail pace in renovation of stadia.

At the moment, there is only one usable stadium in Nairobi after the delay in re-opening Nyayo Stadium.

Most Nairobi based Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs take their matches to Kasarani Stadium and the facility is already suffering wear and tear.

In its state, the facility is set to host the 18th IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships next year. It’s still unclear if renovation works will be completed within schedule.

It is also almost two years since Nyayo Stadium was closed down for renovations but the work is yet to be completed forcing teams to move their matches outside Nairobi sometimes at huge costs.

Though a lot of progress has been made at Nyayo, lack of funding continues to stall its completion. Standard Sports established that the contractor has not stepped on site since last year December.

Most of the work has been completed and the facility now has shiny six new changing rooms, an impressive playing surface and plenty of parking space.

But there is still work that needs to be done outside the stadium as rubble and stones are still lying around.

Sports Kenya Spokesman Rakhi Asman however assured that Nyayo Stadium will be ready for use this month.

“The completion works are in the final stages and we will do testing this month. The contractor has also scaled down and does not come as frequently as he used to because the work has reduced. We will allow some KPL matches to be played at the venue,” he said.

Asman however said he does not know when the seats will be laid down at the stadium.

He admitted that the overuse of Kasarani has started to affect the facility and believes the opening up of Nyayo Stadium will ease pressure on the country’s biggest sporting facility.

Since City Stadium was closed down three years ago, Nairobi county government has not shown any interest to renovate the facility to its former status with only empty promises being made.

Before it was closed down, City Stadium was the home ground for KPL champions Gor Mahia and helped ease pressure on Nyayo and Kasarani. The stadium is also the most accessible in the city.

Prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, world governing body Fifa laid an artificial turf at the venue but it was quickly worn out due to overuse.

Before the artificial turf was laid, there had been an agreement between Fifa and the county government for renovation works to be carried outside the facility including the construction of a parking but this was never to be.

Ruaraka Stadium, the home of KPL side Tusker, is also in a dilapidated state despite promises by East African Breweries Limited (EABL) to give it a facelift.