The Nyayo National Stadium has officially been opened after three years of renovations. President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the ceremony accompanied by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, Sports Principal Secretary Joe Okudo, Chief Administrative Secretary Hassan Noor, Sports Kenya chairman Fred Muteti, Sports Fund chairman Jack Tuwei among other dignitaries.
The Nyayo National Stadium was closed in 2017 for renovations ahead of the failed Africa Nations Championships (Chan) that saw Morocco step in to host the event in 2018. The president said that reopening of the stadium which was constructed and opened in 1983 marked the first page of a new chapter of sports in Kenya.
“Kenya’s sportsmen and women will add new pages to affirm Kenya as a world sporting power house,” said Kenyatta
New look of Nyayo Stadium
Sports Kenya CEO Pius Metto pointed out that massive renovations took place on the stadium. From an aerial view, the stadium seats resemble a collage or montage of the Kenyan flag colours of red, black and green. From the outside, what stands out is the new lobby that is adorned by a glittering glass tower.
To curb criminal elements that have for so long taken out their anger over referee decisions on the stadium’s facilities, resulting in millions of property losses and damage, a system has been made in such a way that when you book a ticket, it indicates the specific seat number on which you must sit. If any seat assigned to you is damaged, we will track you easily and you will account for the loss.
The new Nyayo is fitted with security cameras in most areas to keep vigilance and also has an anti-doping room to ensure sports persons undergo doping tests before competitions. Another addition to the refurbished facility is four additional dressing rooms – two on both sides of the pitch as well as two separate referee rooms. Each of these dressing rooms has lockers that are fitted with modern security safes to secure players’ valuables while on the pitch.
Poor state of stadia in Kenya
Kenya lost its chance of hosting the CHAN Africa Nations Championships after it was ruled out based on the poor state of stadia in the country. The President gave a warning to Sports Kenya to ensure that the facilities that the government is constructing and refurbishing are managed well to avoid a repeat of losing a chance to host big events and also directed Sports Kenya and the Ministry of Sports to ensure that all the stadia that are under construction across the country are completed by December this year.
“These facilities must be managed well so that they don’t fall into deplorable repairs state,” said Kenyatta.
Apart from the renovation issues facing Nyayo and Kisumu Stadia, the government has faced a myriad of challenges while trying to ensure that the stadia promise they made during their campaigns in 2013 becomes a reality, citing Nyeri, Mombasa and Kisumu counties as examples which have faced title deeds or environmental setbacks.
Among the arenas under construction are the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Wote Stadium in Makueni among others.
