Nyayo National Stadium is a 18,000-seater multi-purpose stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.[1] It is located at the square of Mombasa Road, Langata Road and the Aerodrome Road. It is approximately two kilometers from the City Center, directly opposite Nairobi Mega Mall, formerly known as Nakumatt Mega. It is currently used mostly for football matches hosting AFC Leopards football club. Rugby union club Mwamba RFC used to use the Nyayo National Stadium for home games. The stadium is also used for athletics, swimming,[clarification needed] and various ceremonies most common of which are National Holiday celebrations. Other facilities at the Stadium include a gymnasium and a 50-metre swimming pool. The stadium houses headquarters for the Football Kenya Federation and Athletics Kenya.
 Aerial view:  | |
 | |
| Location | Nairobi, Kenya |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 1°18′13″S 36°49′27″E / 1.30361°S 36.82417°E |
| Owner | Government of Kenya |
| Operator | Sports Kenya |
| Capacity |
|
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1983 |
| Renovated | 2024 |
| Expanded | 2024 |
| Architect | Nyanja Architects and Associates |
| Tenants | |
| A.F.C. Leopards Athletics Kenya Kenya national football team | |
History
editThis section contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (November 2024) |
The stadium was built in 1983, for a capacity of 15,000. The completion of the Nyayo Stadium gave Kenya the opportunity to be placed in the category of nations that were invited to bid for the 4th All-Africa Games in 1987, a bid that was awarded to Kenya giving it International status. In essence, the Nyayo Stadium "gave birth" to Moi International Sports Centre.
The Nyayo Stadium was the host venue for the 2010 African Championships in Athletics.
The stadium was renamed to the Coca-Cola National Stadium, after the multi-national company won the naming rights to the stadium in February 2009.[2] The deal was worth US$1.5 million and would have seen the beverage company do branding, marketing and naming to the whole stadium for three years. Three months later, however, Coca-Cola withdrew from the contract because the Kenyan government wanted to have the stadium branded as Coca-Cola Nyayo National Stadium,[3] but was renamed again to the Nyayo National Stadium, as the Government of Kenya wanted it branded. This decision has been widely criticised by many Kenyan citizens because they believe that Coca-Cola would have heavily improved and popularised the stadium.
The stadium was selected to host the CHAN 2024 early in 2025 and was suggested as a venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, but will ultimately serve as a training ground for the latter.[1] It got refurbished in 2024, increasing the capacity to 18,000 seats, upgrading floodlighting to 3,000 Lux and installing Video Assistant Referee cameras as well as various upgrades to the workstations inside the stadium.[1]
Components
editMain stadium
editThe main stadium, holding 15,000 people and a FIFA-approved standard-size football pitch, also contains floodlights, 2 VIP lounges, a boardroom and an internet-enabled media centre. The stadium can also be, and has also been used, to host concerts, public holiday celebrations, public rallies, meetings and crusades. The stadium houses headquarters for the Football Kenya Federation and Athletics Kenya.
Aquatic Centre
editThe aquatic centre holds 2,000 people, contains a filtration plant, and a public 50 x 25 m swimming pool.
Indoor Gymnasium
editThe indoor gymnasium holds 2,500 people, is the home of the Kenya National Basketball League and the Kenya national basketball team. It also features floodlights, electronic scoreboards, snack bars, a boxing ring, an indoor badminton court, a martial arts gym and other social facilities.
Handball and volleyball training courts
editThe handball and volleyball courts can accommodate up to 1,500 spectators and feature outdoor training courts.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d https://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2024-09/Hansard%20Report%20-%20Wednesday%2C%2025th%20September%202024%20%28P%29.pdf
- ^ "Nyayo National Stadium renamed in $1.5M". various. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- ^ "Nyayo Stadium no longer on the Coke side of life". Daily Nation. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
External links
edit- Sports Stadia Management Board – A body governing few stadiums in Kenya, including the Moi International Sports Centre
- Videos at NairobiKenya.com