This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
Located at an altitude of 2,800 meters, Shamata in Nyandarua County has the potential to be an ideal training ground for budding long-distance runners. However, the lack of properly developed sports facilities has left a lot of talent to waste away in this rural set-up.
Shamata is home to Ruth Waithera, the pioneer 400 meters runner who was the first Kenyan woman to reach an Olympic sprints final at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. She finished eighth in 51.56 seconds in a race won by American Valerie Brisco-Hooks in an Olympic record 48.83 seconds.
The area is in the Ndaragwa Constituency, whose MP, Jeremiah Kioni, once threatened to push for the area to be annexed to the neighbouring Laikipia County. Residents of Ndaragwa seek most services either in Nyahururu town (Laikipia County) or Nyeri town in Nyeri County because reaching the County headquarters in Ol Kalou is expensive.
Shamata Ward MCA, Reuben Gitau, has promised to develop the area into an ultramodern sports facility. The stadium will have two pitches, a track, handball, volleyball court, and a place for indoor games, according to Gitau.
However, a Sh4 million dais that is being constructed by the county government has encroached too much onto the existing football pitch. Part of the dais has interfered with the goal area, making it dangerous for players. The MCA explains that the whole stadium will be redesigned to change the current pitch from its present north-south direction to the unconventional east-west one.
