Moi International Sports Centre

Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani
Interior of the stadium on a matchday
Map
Full nameMoi International Sports Centre
LocationKasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
Coordinates1°13′41″S 36°53′26″E / 1.22806°S 36.89056°E / -1.22806; 36.89056
OwnerGovernment of Kenya
OperatorSports Kenya
Capacity
  • 55,000 (2024–present)[1]
  • Capacity history
    • 65,000[2] (2012–2024)
  • 5,000 (Kasarani Indoor Arena)
  • 5,000 (Competition pool)[3]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1987
OpenedAugust 1987
Renovated2010–12, 2024
Tenants
Kenya national football team
Mathare United F.C.
Tusker
Athletics Kenya

The Moi International Sports Centre (abbreviated as MISC, locally referred to as the Kasarani stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Kasarani, Kenya. It was built in 1987 for the All-Africa Games held in Nairobi. The facilities include a 55,000-seat stadium with a running track and a pitch used for football and rugby union, a competition size swimming pool, an indoor arena and a 108-bed capacity hotel.[4] The stadium is located at 1,612 metres (1.002 mi) above sea level in altitude.[5]

History

During a visit to China in 1980, Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi requested that China fund a national sports center for Kenya.[6]: 41  After signing a series of protocols and agreements, China began work on the Moi International Sports Center in 1982.[6]: 41  In 1987, China completed the first phase and turned the center over to Kenya in time for the All-Africa Games later that year.[6]: 41 The sports complex later appeared on the 20 Kenyan shilling note.[7]

The stadium was closed in January 2010 for renovation works worth KSh.900 million, funded by a grant to the Government of Kenya by the Government of China. Chinese firm, Sheng Li Engineering Construction Company Limited, was contracted to conduct the renovations. The renovation works started in August 2010 and took 12 months.[8] The stadium was reopened in March 2012 after completion of the renovations.

In April and May 2014, after terror attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa, the main stadium was used as a screening center as part of 'Operation Usalama Watch' during which thousands of people were rounded up and arrested by the Kenya Police.[9][10]

The stadium hosted the 2017 World U18 Championships in Athletics[11] and 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.[citation needed]

The stadium was closed for renovations in 2024, due to it selection to host the CHAN 2024 early in 2025, as well as the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.[1] The refurbishments saw the capacity reduced from 65 to 55 thousand, a new larger roof installed, flood lighting upgraded to 3,000 Lux, Video Assistant Referee cameras installed as well as various upgrades to the workstations inside the stadium.[1]

Facilities

Kasarani Stadium (Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani)

The main arena is used by the Kenya national football team for most of its home games, as well as Kenyan Premier League sides Mathare United and Tusker F.C.[citation needed]

Since 2013 the Safari Sevens rugby union tournament has been hosted at the Kasarani Stadium.[citation needed]

For sponsorship reasons, the stadium was known as Safaricom Stadium Kasarani.[12]

Kasarani Indoor Arena

The indoor arena seats 5,000 and hosts volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, badminton, boxing, wrestling, martial arts and table tennis.[citation needed]

For sponsorship reasons, the arena is also known as Safaricom Indoor Arena.[citation needed]

Kasarani Aquatic Complex

This arena consists of an Olympic competition pool 1.25 metres in depth, a recreational public diving pool and a children's pool.[citation needed]

The Stadium Hotel

This is a 108-room hotel located within the centre.[citation needed]

International matches

Date Competition Result Rival Attendance
11 September 2018 International Friendly 1–0  Malawi 3,500
14 October 2018 2019 AFCON Qualifiers 3–0  Ethiopia 60,000
18 Nov 2019 2021 AFCON Qualifiers 1–1  Togo

References

  1. ^ a b c https://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2024-09/Hansard%20Report%20-%20Wednesday%2C%2025th%20September%202024%20%28P%29.pdf
  2. ^ "Kenya's new president to be sworn in at Kasarani". Archived from the original on 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  3. ^ "Moi International Sports Complex (MISC), Kasarani". www.sportskenya.org. Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  4. ^ "Moi International Sports Complex (MISC), Kasarani". www.sportskenya.org. Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  5. ^ "Moi International Sports Centre on World Stadium Database". Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  6. ^ a b c Strange, Austin (2023-12-21). Chinese Global Infrastructure (EPUB). Elements in Global China. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009090902. ISBN 978-1-009-09090-2.
  7. ^ "图览｜这些"中国元素"，上了非洲货币-中新网". www.chinanews.com.cn. 2024-09-04.
  8. ^ "韩春霖参赞考察莫伊国际体育中心维修项目". Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. 2011-03-01.
  9. ^ Somalis are scapegoats in Kenya's Counter-terror Crackdown Archived 2017-02-28 at the Wayback Machine, Amnesty International, May 2014. Accessed on 27 February 2017.
  10. ^ Usalama Watch: State is fracturing Kenyan society Archived 2017-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, The East African, 19 April 2014. Accessed on 27 February 2017.
  11. ^ Competitions Update Archived 2016-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 2017-06-07
  12. ^ Akaki, Lulu (6 December 2013). "Safaricom Stadium Kasarani unveiled". hapakenya.com. HapaKenya. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
Preceded by Rollball World Cup venue
2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by All-Africa Games Main stadium
1987 		Succeeded by
Preceded by IAAF World U18 Championships stadium
2017 		Succeeded by
None
Games abolished

1°13′47.9″S 36°53′32.6″E / 1.229972°S 36.892389°E / -1.229972; 36.892389

  1. ^ "Moi International Sports Centre". JF Football. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-27.