Sports Kenya, the body mandated to manage sports facilities in the country is done with installing new 35,000 seats at Kasarani Stadium.”With that, all spaces that were previously uncovered by seats are now covered,” said a spokesperson for Sports Kenya.Cabinet Secretary for Sports Hon Ababu Namwamba disclosed that serialization of the seats, a critical requirement for its approval, has also been completed.”Serialised seating at Kasarani Stadium done. A key condition for this facility getting the nod to host FIFA and CAF sanctioned matches,” the former Budalangi Member of Parliament said.Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums failed inspection tests by CAF, the continental football organization based in Cairo, Egypt, in 2021. With no attempts to upgrade the two biggest sporting arenas in the country, Kenya found herself in a fresh list of 25 countries banned by CAF from staging international games.Neighbors Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia are also in the list of shame. Unable to find a local solution in time, Uganda have opted to play their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games in Egypt. Mozzart Bet Kenya announces Ksh 60 Million sponsorship for the FKF Cup##NAJAVA_MECA_7059770##Other areas of Kasarani Stadium that needed renovation include changing and doping rooms, media center, floodlights and flattening of the playing surface.”With the serialization of seats, tickets can now be sold to fans based on seat numbers. This way, trouble makers can be easily identified and arrested,” said the spokesperson.”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,” said Ababu Namwamba during his recent tour of the Kasarani Stadium.”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,” he added.Ababu Namwamba reiterated that Kenya will be aiming to host the 2017 AFCON in collaboration with her neighbors, and the ongoing renovation project is tied to that goal.
