BY PHILLIP ORWA
Kenya is reaping from the investment in her stadia, Kasarani International and Nyayo National Stadium by being preferred destination to host CAF matches.
Currently, the two stadia are hosting the ongoing CHAN tournament in the country and have been equipped with modern equipment and infrastructure.
With the World Cup qualifiers on card, Kenya will host the World Cup qualifying match between Gambia and Burundi after Independence Stadium failed to meet CAF/FIFA clearance.
GAMFOOT has confirmed that The Gambia will host next month’s World Cup qualifier against Burundi in Nairobi, Kenya.
A communique from GAMFOOT indicated that no stadium in Gambia has been cleared for international matches.
Kenya’s Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums received FIFA and CAF’s nod to host international matches and have been currently playing host to ongoing CHAN tournament.
The facilities were cleared to host the ongoing CHAN and African Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be held in 2027 in the two stadia, alongside Talanta Hela Stadium that will be completed at the end of this year.
Construction works at the 60,000-capacity, Talanta Hela Stadium is now over 75% with X Curtain Wall beams being erected.
Gambia is coached by former Gor Mahia FC coach Jonathan McKinstry, the coach whose used the two facilities, will be relying on home fans (Gor Mahia) to topple Burundi in the qualifiers.
After a decade of unfulfilled promise by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration to construct and rehabilitate the country’s stadia, President William Ruto has walked the talk.
President Ruto has reignited the sweet memories of the Kenya facilities after they were condemned and declared unfit to host international games.
This forced Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars to play international games outside the country.
The 60,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium, also known as Moi International Sports Centre, has undergone a tremendous uplift after the William Ruto administration sank in Sh6.7 billion.
Soipan Tuya, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Defence, the Ministry that oversaw the renovations, in recent updates indicated that works at Kasarani have cost Sh6.7 billion; Sh3.1 billion in the first phase and Sh3.6 billion for the second phase.
Kenya has been missing opportunities to stage important FIFA events. For instance, in 2021, CAF banned Kenya’s Nyayo and Kasarani Stadium from hosting the FIFA 2022 World Cup for failing to meet FIFA standards.
“Reference to the inspection visit conducted by Caf, we regret to inform you that the stadium did not meet the set minimum Caf stadium requirements and consequently will not be approved for the qualifying matches of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matchday five and six,” read a letter from CAF.
In 2017, at the height of post-election violence, Kenya again failed to host the CAF matches due to poor state of our stadiums and the political temperatures in the country, and the country’s failure to construct five stadia.
CAF inspectors had found that the five stadia that had been earmarked to host the competition were only 20 per cent ready, meaning it could have been impractical for the venues to be handed over on the December 1 2017 to the organisers.
The five stadia included Kasarani, Nyayo Stadium, Kinoru Stadium in Meru, Kipchoge Keino in Eldoret, and Machakos Kenyatta Stadium.
Then CAF President Ahmad said while in Accra, Ghana “Kenyan Officials weren’t truthful,” when he read the decision in the presence of the then Football Kenya Federation Chairman Nick Mwendwa, the Sports Permanent Secretary Kirimi Kaberia and then Events Director Herbert Mwachiro.
President Ruto came on board with a promise of ensuring infrastructure was improved, and this is why he placed his energy in not only refurbishing Kasarani, but also building an all-new Talanta Sports Complex.
For this reason, Kasarani Stadium was closed down for renovations since August 2023. The renovations were part of preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host.
The stadium was expected to be ready for testing matches in June, as part of the final preparations before the tournaments, and the good news is that it was tested, approved and handed over to CAF in readiness for CHAN which begins on Sunday 3rd with Kenya hosting DRC Congo in the first match.
Upgrades initiated when the stadium was closed for renovation include installation of a canopy, floodlights enhanced to 3,000 Lux, and the installation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) cameras, and a Perimeter Advertising Board (PAB) all round the pitch, upgraded facilities like new media tribunes, enhanced broadcasting capabilities.
Kasarani now boasts media tribunes with desks, power supply, and high-speed internet, along with a press conference room equipped for broadcast.
The stadium has dedicated platforms for camera positions, TV and radio commentary positions, an OB van area, and a video operating room for VAR officials, all with enhanced connectivity and amenities.
Kasarani Annex and Kasarani Annex B, now used as training grounds, have also been renovated with improved changing rooms and playing surfaces.
The renovations also included tiling, painting, and clearing of debris, with the overall goal of bringing the stadium up to world-class standards.
The capacity of the stadium is 60,000. Some of the improvements that have been done are installing regular seats that have a backrest but are not foldable, VIP seats that are foldable, VVIP that have cushioned auditorium, foldable seats but with cup holders and enough space in between to allow for undisturbed movement.
All five player changing rooms have more than 25 seats and lockers, a tactical board, more than five showers and washrooms, as well as charging points among others.
The facility has been acting as Harambee Stars’ training base for the tournament, which will take place from Saturday, 2 to Saturday, 30 August.
The initial tartan track that was destroyed during construction, an artificial turf has been installed to cover the running track for purposes of CHAN with a new tartan expected after the tournament.
