Sports Kenya has confirmed Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium playing pitch will be accessible for use for only one day per week.
In a letter addressed to the Kenyan Premier League Limited, Sports Kenya Director General Saima Ondimu says the main reason is to allow the grass surface to develop and mature fully.
“Just like most stadiums in the country, Kasarani has been undergoing refurbishments. However, costant usage of the facility, has hindered the said refurbishments from being completed within set timelines. The stadium’s board has adopted policies and guidelines that will be aimed at maintaining the stadium,” the letter reads in part,
“The stadium will be available for use once a week and only in a duration lasting not more than 150 minutes. This is in a bid to effectively develop the rooting system of the tuff that has been affected by the fluctuation of weather conditions.” It adds.
Kasarani is set to be the venue for the Round 24 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash pittying Mathare United against SoNy Sugar on Sunday 29th July 2018. The stadium was set to hold a double header that would have included the Tusker vs Sofapaka game as well but the clash will now be played at the Ruaraka Stadium.
Kasarani is a multi-purpose stadium in Kasarani, Kenya. It was built in 1987 for the All-Africa Games held in Nairobi. The facilities include a 60,000 seat arena with a running track and a pitch used for football and rugby union, a competition size swimming pool, an indoor arena and a 108-bed capacity hotel.
The stadium was closed in January 2010 for renovation works worth Kes900 million and funded by a grant to the Government of Kenya by the Government of China. Chinese firm, Sheng Li Engineering Construction Company Limited was contracted to conduct the renovations and the stadium was reopened in March 2012 after completion of the renovations.
In April and May 2014, after terror attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa, the main stadium was used as a screening centre as part of ‘Operation Usalama Watch’ during which thousands of people were indiscriminately rounded up and arrested by the Kenyan Police, and were subjected to harassment, extortion and ill-treatment.
Suspected illegal Somali immigrants were detained in the stadium under poor conditions with lack of access to food and legal assistance. For this purpose the stadium was officially designated on 17 April 2014 as a police station and detention centre.
The stadium located within the Sports Centre hosted the 2017 World U18 Championships in Athletics