From left, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, Kenya’s Mary Moraa and Ferdinand Omanyala, Christine Mbona of Namibia and Janee’ Kassanavoid of USA during the Absa Kip Keino Classic pre-meet press conference at Eka Hotel, Nairobi on April 18, 2024.
Organisers of the Kip Keino Classic World Athletics Continental Gold Tour could move the event to Ulinzi Sports Complex if the Nyayo National Stadium is not ready in time for the event on May 31.
The event’s director, Barnaba Korir, said that plans are at an advanced stage to have the 8,000-seater Ulinzi Sports Complex certified to host the Kip Keino Classic. The KDF facility will then be the alternative venue should the laying of a new tartan track at the Nyayo National Stadium not be completed in time.
Korir said World Athletics Continental Tour events director, Owen Malone, had visited the country and toured the two venues while the director in charge of technical Suren Ayadassen is expected next week.
Meet organisers have held discussion with the Kenya Defence Forces over the plans.
Korir added that Timetronics, which will be in charge of the live broadcast, has toured Ulinzi Complex in anticipation of the venue switch.
“The laying of new tartan track at Nyayo was delayed because of the work on the playing surface,” said Korir.
He also blamed the weather for delay in completion of the work.
The new tartan from Mondo was delivered to the site a few weeks ago while the glue that will be used to lay the artificial surface is expected on site tomorrow.
It means the contractor will have about a week to complete the laying and marking of the track.
A source at Nyayo National Stadium said that the road construction on Upper Hill side has interfered with the drainage system in the area leading to flooding at Nyayo Stadium.
“We have already contacted Kenya National Highways Authority concerning the issue. We have never experienced this kind of flooding at the stadium,” said the stadium official who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the press.
Nyayo National Stadium is among the venues that have been closed for renovations ahead of the African Nations Championship scheduled for August.
Workers remove the running track at the Nyayo National Stadium Athletics on April 26, 2025.
Last year’s Kip Keino meet was held at Nyayo Stadium while the 2023 classic was staged at Moi International Sports Centre.
Korir said that if this year’s Continental Gold Tour meet is moved to Ulinzi Sports Complex, they will be forced to charge entry to limit the number of spectators.
“The stadium capacity won’t allow us to have the huge numbers that we have witnessed when the event is held at Nyayo or Kasarani,” said Korir.
Nyayo National Stadium hosted the inaugural Kip Keino Classic in 2020. The next three editions were held at MISC.
