Moi International Sports Centre

History

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

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. 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.

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

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. 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.

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.

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

References

References

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3. "Moi International Sports Complex (MISC), Kasarani".
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5. Strange, Austin. (2023-12-21). "Chinese Global Infrastructure". [[Cambridge University Press]].
6. (2024-09-04). "图览｜这些“中国元素”，上了非洲货币-中新网". www.chinanews.com.cn.
7. (2011-03-01). "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.
8. [https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/4000/afr520032014en.pdf Somalis are scapegoats in Kenya's Counter-terror Crackdown] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-02-28, Amnesty International, May 2014. Accessed on 27 February 2017.)
9. [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] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-02-27, The East African, 19 April 2014. Accessed on 27 February 2017.)
10. link. (2016-08-27. IAAF. Retrieved on 2017-06-07)
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12. (16 July 2025). "Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani: History, Location & Capacity".
13. (6 December 2013). "Safaricom Stadium Kasarani unveiled". HapaKenya.
14. (27 March 2023). "Moi International Sports Centre".