A process to elevate Kenya’s biggest sporting arena, the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to the required standards has begun with installation of new seats.Only last week, a consignment that included 35,000 new seats and two sets of FIFA Standard substitution benches, arrived and was received by Sports Kenya honchos.Nyayo National Stadium, the country’s second largest stadium, will benefit from one of the substitution benches.A spot check by Mozzart Sport, revealed work in progress at Kasarani with workers installing the seats in areas that were not previously covered.In 2021, both Kasarani and Nyayo failed the CAF inspection test and were banned from hosting international competitions. Without any improvements since then, Kenya has found herself in a damning fresh list of 25 countries incapable of hosting CAF and FIFA competitions due to poor stadiums. Others include Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7013820##In a letter written by CAF Development Director Raul Chepindo and which was copied to FKF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Otieno, CAF had indicated the decision to ban Kasarani emanated from a report from its inspection team.“Reference to the inspection visit conducted by CAF at Kasarani as part of the stadia’s assessment for homolation for the Fifa World Cup 2022 qualifiers. Based on the inspection report, we regret to inform you that the stadium did not meet the set minimum CAF Stadium requirements and consequently will not be approved for the qualifying matches,” read the letter. Tactical masterpiece of how flying Nzoia Sugar beat Kariobangi Sharks at their own gameIn a statement Sports Kenya Director General Mr. Pius Metto said that, “The purpose of this exercise is not only to achieve CAF and FIFA requirements, but also to modernize our facilities and make them more user friendly to our clients.”It is expected that the works, which Mozzart Sport can reveal, includes revamping of the dressing and doping rooms and installation of WiFi, are expected to be over in a month’s time and CAF inspectors called to assess the job done.
