This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
On a sweltering mid-morning in Nairobi, the City Stadium's artificial turf simmers under the sun, with long, partly burnt grass bushes around the perimeter swaying in the wind.
As of August 6, 2020, the stadium's Russia end is almost unrecognizable, with the long grass threatening to engulf the seating areas and snakes finding a new habitat beneath the stoned seating.
The stadium, once a revered home ground of record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia, has been in a state of neglect since it was switched from natural grass to a synthetic pitch in 2008.
Under the Nairobi County Government, there have been plans to renovate the stadium and replace the artificial turf. In an interview with Capital Sport, Hashim Kamau, the Nairobi Sports Board chair, outlined the plans for the stadium's renovation.
"At the moment, we are in phase one of the renovations, where we are doing the dressing rooms, washrooms, and the Main Stand. After that, we will move into phase two, which will include replacing the turf, the floodlights, and building two more terrace stands," Kamau explained.
Already, the Nairobi County Assembly has approved a Sh20mn budget for phase one, but a further Sh180mn is required for phase two, as per Kamau. However, the current County Allocation Revenue Bill 2020 has hindered the progress of the renovations, with an impasse on the third generation formula for revenue sharing at the Senate.
"We are planning to tender for the turf laying works in the next two weeks. At the moment, the contractor is not working because basically we have not finished his payments," Kamau further explained.
A new toilet block has been built, though yet to be completed, while the changing rooms have also had a small face-lift, also yet to be completed.
There was talk of the government taking over the rehabilitation and running of the stadium, but Kamau says there has been no formal approach from Kencom House.
"We have no problem with the Government helping but as at now, there has been no one talking to us about it," he noted.
Kamau is however hopeful and sounds confident that the stadium will get a new face by April next year.
