A journey through some of Kenya’s famous sports stadia

By Morris Kiruga
Nyayo Stadium

Built in 1983, Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi is named after former President Moi’s “Nyayo” philosophy.

It is the second biggest stadium in Kenya, and the venue of choice for many political, social, and religious events.

For three brief months in 2009, the stadium was renamed Coca Cola Stadium after the company won the naming rights in a three-year, $1.5 million (about Sh117 million) contract.

It was informally known as ‘Brrrr stadium’ after Coca Cola’s famous advertisement featuring Kenyan actor Charles Bukeko.

The deal was retracted after the government insisted on the retention of the ‘Nyayo’ name.

Kasarani Stadium

The completion of Nyayo Stadium set the stage for the construction of an even bigger facility to host the All Africa Games of 1987. The 60,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre thus became Kenya’s flagship facility during the regional games.

The multi-sport facility is now used for many events and occasions, including political, and is more commonly known as Kasarani Stadium.

Among the big events it has hosted include the World Social Forum (2007) and MTV Africa Music Awards (2009).

City Stadium

Until the construction of Nyayo and Kasarani Stadiums in the 1980s, Nairobi City Stadium was the main stadium facility in Kenya.

It was built in the 1930s and was first known as African Stadium. It was later renamed Donholm Road Stadium, then Jogoo Road Stadium and finally Nairobi City Stadium.

Today, it is known simply as ‘City Stadium’ or tok K’omwanda to ardent Gor Mahia fans, whose team plays its home games there.

Mombasa Sports Club

The oldest Sports stadium in Kenya is the Mombasa Sports Club. The colonial settlers established the recreational facility in 1896.

Today, its mainstay is cricket, although it hosts other sports such as hockey, rugby, and football.

Ruring’u Stadium

Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri is the place where the last bastions of freedom fighters surrendered their weapons to Kenyatta in 1963.

Today, it has several freedom war monuments and other mementos that serve as a reminder of this historical significance.

It still serves as a sports facility and community meeting grounds.

Moi Stadium, Kisumu

Nyanza’s main stadium was built in the 1950s. It was renamed in honour of President Moi’s first visit to Kisumu in 1979, a decade after the last visit to the town by a sitting president. Its more common name is Kisumu Stadium.

Afraha Stadium

Afraha was first used in 1948 when it was known as African Sports Stadium.

As football thrived among Kenyan Africans, the stadium became the main venue for sporting events country-wide.

It is now the home stadium of Ulinzi Stars FC.

‘Afraha’ is an acronym created from ‘African raha’, the second word being Kiswahili for happiness.

Kirigiti Stadium

Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu was originally constructed as cricket grounds.

The locals corrupted the name ‘Cricket’ to ‘Kirigiti’, and it stuck, eventually being adopted by the settlement that grew beside it.

Kenyatta’s last public meeting before the declaration of a State of Emergency was held there.

This was also the venue of Kanu’s inception on March 20, 1960. At the meeting, interim officials headed by James Gichuru were selected to lead the party in preparation for Kenyatta’s release.

Kipchoge Keino Stadium

Eldoret’s main stadium is named after the famous athletics champion and Chairperson of the Kenya Olympics Committee, Kipchoge Keino.

It hosted many league matches in its hey days in the 1980s, but fell into a state of disrepair until renovations began in 2007.

By that time, part of the stadium grounds had been converted into a car park and a grain drying area.

Kamariny Stadium

This small Stadium in Iten is famous for hosting generations of elite runners.

It was officially opened in 1952 and has gone on to host the best of the best including such famous names as David Rudisha, Bernard Lagat, Wilson Kipketer, and Peter Rono.

Lydia Cheromei, the athletics prodigy who won a gold medal at the junior IAAF World Cross country Championships at the tender age of 13, also trained there.

Kamukunji Grounds

Today’s serene Kamukunji recreational grounds mask its historical significance as the main venue of political agitation for pluralism.

Although it has since been reclaimed and undergone a complete make-over, Kamukunji remains synonymous with the FORD rallies of the early 1990s.