This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
Since 2016, Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) teams have struggled to find suitable venues for their fixtures, following the closure of Nairobi Railway Club for renovation work that stalled due to a dispute between the club management and the Kenya Railways Pension Scheme.
The renovation project, which was to be undertaken by a US organisation, Be Own Sport, contracted by Nairobi Railway Club, has been on hold for three years, leaving the basketball courts in a state of disrepair.
The once popular courts, which hosted numerous NBA fixtures and training sessions for teams, have been abandoned and resemble an construction site, with tall trees, overgrown grass, and unattended trash.
According to Caleb Osewe, NBA's fixtures secretary, the stalled renovation has forced the association to incur unnecessary expenditures on booking alternative courts, including Kasarani Indoor Arena, USIU-A outdoor courts, and Strathmore University Courts.
"The courts at Railways Club were very useful for teams in the city because they were at a convenient location where both players and fans could easily access, and the charges for booking leagues and fixtures were pretty affordable as well," Osewe said.
"We were very excited when we heard about the renovation but we have since been disappointed because growth of basketball in Kenya has stalled. We have had to cancel fixtures or postpone them making both the players and fans lose interest in the game," he added.
