Moi International Sports Centre Explained

Stadium Name:Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani
Fullname:Moi International Sports Centre
Location:Kasarani,
Nairobi, Kenya
Built:1987
Opened:August 1987
Renovated:January 2010
Owner:Government_of_Kenya
Operator:Sports Kenya
Surface:Grass
Construction Cost:KSh.900 million/= (renovations)
Structural Engineer:Sheng-Li Engineering Construction Company Ltd. (renovations)
Services Engineer:Sheng-Li Engineering Construction Company Ltd. (renovations)
Main Contractors:n/a
Tenants:Kenya national football team
Mathare United F.C.
Tusker
Athletics Kenya
Seating Capacity:Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani: 80,000[1] (Kasarani Stadium)5,000 (Kasarani Indoor Arena)5,000 (Competition pool)[2]

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 60,000-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.[3] Located at 1,612 metres above sea level, it is slightly above 1 mile in altitude.[4]

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 and 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.[5] [6]

The stadium hosted the 2017 World U18 Championships in Athletics[7] and 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.

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.

Since 2013 the Safari Sevens rugby union tournament has been hosted at the Kasarani Stadium.

For sponsorship reasons, the stadium was known as Safaricom Stadium Kasarani.[8]

Kasarani Indoor Arena

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

For sponsorship reasons, the arena is also known as Safaricom Indoor Arena.

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.

The Stadium Hotel

This is a 108-room hotel located within the centre.

International matches

Date CompetitionResult Rival Attendance
11 September 2018International Friendly1–03,500
14 October 20182019 AFCON Qualifiers3–060,000
18 Nov 20192021 AFCON Qualifiers1–1

References

  1. Web site: Kenya's new president to be sworn in at Kasarani . 2014-07-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130729054301/http://www.ghettoradio.co.ke/kenyas-new-president-to-be-sworn-in-at-kasarani/ . 2013-07-29 .
  2. Web site: Moi International Sports Complex (MISC), Kasarani. www.sportskenya.org. 2019-12-05. 2018-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20181008062258/http://www.sportskenya.org/index.php/financing/our-facilities/74-the-moi-international-sports-complex-misc-kasarani. live.
  3. Web site: Moi International Sports Complex (MISC), Kasarani. www.sportskenya.org. 2016-04-29. 2018-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20181008062258/http://www.sportskenya.org/index.php/financing/our-facilities/74-the-moi-international-sports-complex-misc-kasarani. live.
  4. Web site: Moi International Sports Centre on World Stadium Database. 2022-03-05. 2022-03-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20220305043939/https://www.worldstadiumdatabase.com/moi-international-sports-centre-stadium-kasarani-in-kenya.htm. live.
  5. https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/4000/afr520032014en.pdf Somalis are scapegoats in Kenya's Counter-terror Crackdown
  6. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/comment/Usalama-Watch--State-is-fracturing-Kenyan-society-/434750-2284922-x08n38z/index.html Usalama Watch: State is fracturing Kenyan society
  7. https://www.iaaf.org/download/download?filename=616ad3fb-d1a8-48d8-952b-4c64fc80834c.pdf&urlSlug=competitions-update-200816 Competitions Update
  8. Web site: Akaki. Lulu. Safaricom Stadium Kasarani unveiled. hapakenya.com. 6 December 2013. HapaKenya. 12 September 2015. 30 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160630033741/http://www.hapakenya.com/2013/12/06/safaricom-stadium-kasarani-unveiled/. live.

External links

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