Kasarani to get facelifit, 55,000 seats
By Vincent Voiyoh, February 17, 2023Renovation works to give iconic Kasarani Stadium a facelift have begun as Kenya looks forward to submitting a bid for the 2027 Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Cup of Nations hosting rights.
Part of the exercise will see the installation of new 55,000 seats on the upper and lower decks of the national stadium.
The new seats will cost the taxpayer a whooping Sh115 million according to Sports Kenya.
Last month, the CAF failed to give a clean bill of health to Kenya’s dependable sports arenas Kasarani and Nyayo for their ‘poor’ status.
Part of the recommendations from CAF to Kenya regarding Kasarani Stadium was the installation of seats to make it an all-seater arena. Also, the lighting was to be upgraded, renovation of the changing rooms, and media centres and levelling of the playing surface.
For Nyayo Stadium to be readmitted for CAF competitions, floodlights must be fixed and done according to specifications. The playing surface also needs to be properly levelled.
Also, the multipurpose stadium do not have an equipped media centre and media tribune as per CAF requirements. More so, the VVIP area should be up to standards.
The new-look Kasarani Stadium will now have 35,000 seats installed on the upper deck of the venue and another 20,000 seats erected on the lower deck.
The current seats in the lower sitting areas will be removed because they don’t have backrests, the reason for their replacement.
Speaking after an inspection tour by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Wednesday, Sports Kenya Direct General Pius Metto said the ongoing renovation works are focused towards achieving CAF demands.
“We are doing the refurbishments towards what Fifa and CAF had given us. We have procured 35,000 seats that we are now installing which will be completed in the next thirteen days. After that, we will proceed to renovate the floodlights based on the recommendations given to us”, said Metto.
Sitting area
The lights have already been delivered to the stadium and are set to be upgraded from 500 lux of illumination to 1200 lux. Similar lighting is expected to be installed at Nyayo stadium.
During his tour to the stadium, CS Namwamba said infrastructure development and readiness will be key in Kenya’s quest to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Kasarani and Nyayo remain Kenya’s best facilities. Even as we think of much bigger or better facilities we have to lift these to the level where Fifa and CAF can allow international fixtures to be hosted.
“It is important now that the seats are going to be numbered.
“That will be crucial for security and trucking, it will be connected to ticketing.
“After this rehabilitation we will invite FIFA for a follow-up inspection before we prepare our bid for what we want Kenya to host”, Namwamba told People Daily Sports.