Kenya Reopens Refurbished Nyayo National Stadium In Nairobi

Kenya’s Nyayo National Stadium in the capital Nairobi was officially re-opened on Saturday after three years of renovations.

Some athletics contests were also honoured today after extensive renovations since 2017 when the government closed the facility ahead of Kenya’s hosting of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The works had slowed down after the hosting rights were stripped off by CAF due to poor preparedness, but work accelerated at the beginning of this year and now the 25,000 capacity stadium is ready to host events.

The changing rooms are now located at the west end of the stadium where there are also two new separate referee rooms, anti-doping room, as well as offices.

The VIP dais has also been reconstructed with the addition of a third floor and all rooms have been refurbished.

The Stadium is now ready to host the first event next Saturday (October 3) where one day Kip Keino Classic athletics meeting, which is the only leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, will be held.

Dr. Kipchoge Keino, after whom this Nairobi Gold Label Continental Tour is named, is one of the East African nation’s top sportspersons and the pioneer of Kenya’s unbeaten command in mid and long-distance running.

The dry run held at the track today included 200 meters, 400m, 800m and 1,500m, all both for men and women, and the 4x400m mixed relay races.

Only 6000 spectators will be allowed to attend the rescheduled Kip Keino Classic run which was initially planned for May 2 before it was postponed due to the global spread of coronavirus.