Chronicles of Kenya’s home of cricket capture rich history

Commemorative bats signed by top teams that have played Kenya in friendly ties at the only International Cricket Council-certified pitch in East and Central Africa adorn the walls.

Also taking the pride of place is the commemorative plate of India’s Captain Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th test of his career of which only 100 were made.

And while the limited edition plate is on offer on eBay for $1,500 (Sh127,500), other mementos are priceless such as the solid silver trophy from 1939 that the club won in a snooker completion.

Welcome to the Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, often referred to as the Mecca of cricket in Kenya, but is also home to numerous sporting facilities like tennis courts, badminton courts, hockey pitch, swimming pool and card tables.

“We are honoured to be the only club in Kenya with mementos, of this magnitude,” says Sandip Shah, the honourable secretary in charge of outdoor sports, including cricket.

Located in Parklands, Nairobi, the club building, which lies at the end of a short driveway, belies the illustrious rich history and heritage of a people and a game that spawns almost nine decades.

The original building that stood there 85 years ago and cost Sh6,000 (it must run into tens of millions now) to build is no more. In its place stands modern buildings and world class sporting facilities that share its expansive grounds.

So how does one tell the story of an almost century-old institution, one that has shaped and played a major role in shaping a community’s social life and physical fitness? One whose members have played a huge role in the history of a community and a nation?

PRICELESS MEMENTOS

It can be no easy task but one brave man, Mr Swaran Sodi, the club’s secretary, took it upon himself to chronicle its rich history by curating the club's past through its starts and stops and its ultimate triumph that lives through the tenacious spirit of its founding members, their children and ultimately generations to come.

Mr Sodi painstakingly went through the photographs and documents in the club and members’ possession in a bid to tell this story and preserve the memories for posterity.

“Just like human memory which fades with time, human life is as transient as it is short. We are here today and tomorrow we are gone and we must leave something behind that will make those that come after us appreciate that we not only lived but we did our part in promoting sports and social welfare,” he says.

In a process that took seven years to complete, Mr Sodi with Azma Khan talked to members living in and outside the country to acquire the treasure trove that is now the club’s archive. The archives now include priceless documents, photographs and trophies.

Most of the trophies are statement enough that at this club’s heart is cricket, a game that not so long ago Kenya ranked in the top five globally.

Top teams quaked at the mention of Kenya and the photographs showing Kenya beating Pakistan in the One Day World Cup in 2001 enjoy the pride of place in the gallery alongside images of illustrious members who have worked hard to develop the game and the club.

The club, which stated as a family affair in 1928 when land was allocated to the Indian Association by the colonial government, only had facilities for bridge and tennis. This was commendable as at the time, there was little emphasis on sports and leisure activities by the Indian community who concentrated mainly on their business ventures.

People too did not see the need to pay membership fee and so the club was off to a slow start. However, the spirit of philanthropy saw Mr Suleiman Virjee, a wealthy businessman who was active in Indian politics, donate the initial amount to get the club house built and had the sports complex named after him.

PLAYING THE HILLWALLAHS

The club was officially opened on October 190, 1929 by the Deputy President of the East African Indian National Congress as Suleiman Virjee Indian Gymkhana. It's name changed to Nairobi Gymkhana in 1972.

Unique among the clubs of its day, it opened its doors to members of the Asian community all shades after the colonial government closed sectarian clubs whose members turned to the Nairobi Gymkhana.

The club was the first to breach the colour bar when it invited the Europeans to play cricket in 1932.

Nicknamed “Hillwallahs” by the Indians, members of the Westlands club left their breezy hills for a cricket match at the club which the hosts lost. Repeat matches were held which saw the game develop and standards rise with each game.

Mr Sodi, who has been a member since he left his birthplace in Mombasa in the 1950s, is happy to have seen the game grow to world standards. He is, however, sad at its rapid downfall.

“It took us 20 years to build cricket to world class levels. We may not get it back there in our lifetime,” he laments.

But he hopes the club, whose membership is open to everyone, after vetting, will look at its archives with pride and give them a hope for the future.
“This will give them a reason to maintain the dignity of this club and perpetuate its tremendous legacy.