Workers remove the running track at the Nyayo National Stadium Athletics on April 26, 2025.
Organisers of the Kip Keino Classic may relocate this year’s event to the Ulinzi Sports Complex if renovations at the Nyayo National Stadium are not completed in time.
The sixth edition of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour event is scheduled for May 31, but ongoing work to lay a new artificial tartan track at the 30,000-capacity Nyayo Stadium is facing delays due to persistent rains and concurrent renovations on the playing surface.
Kip Keino Classic Meet Director, Barnaba Korir, said plans are at an advanced stage to have the 8,000-seater Ulinzi Sports Complex certified as an alternative venue.
Korir revealed that World Athletics Continental Tour Events Director, Owen Malone, toured both Nyayo and Ulinzi in March, and the Technical Director Suren Ayadassen is expected in the country next week.
“There should be no worry about the certification of the Ulinzi Sports Complex,” said Korir on Thursday.
“Ibrahim Hussein, who is qualified to rate the venue, has been involved. Timetronics, the company handling the live broadcast, has also surveyed the Ulinzi Complex.”
Korir explained that weather-related challenges have significantly affected progress.
“The work on the new tartan track was delayed because of the playing surface, and more so, the weather has not been conducive, with recent rains wreaking havoc,” he said.
Korir added that discussions have already been held with the Kenya Defence Forces regarding the possible change of venue.
The new tartan, sourced from renowned manufacturer Mondo, is already in the country. However, the glue required for laying the track is only expected to arrive on Monday next week—making it a tight race against time to complete the surface before the meet.
Event organiser Lennert Adelhof from Golazo has also inspected the Ulinzi Sports Complex, focusing on the venue’s electrical infrastructure for live coverage.
A separate source at Nyayo National Stadium, who requested anonymity, said road construction near Upper Hill has disrupted the drainage system, leading to flooding at the stadium.
“The water that’s supposed to travel underground is now left on the surface, causing flooding. We’ve contacted the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) about the issue since we never used to experience this before,” said the source.
The flooding recently damaged the laying of the playing surface, forcing the contractor to repeat the process.
“That water should run underground, but the drainage system has been tampered with up the hills,” the source added.
Nyayo Stadium is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Korir noted that should the venue change to Ulinzi, organisers will have to introduce an entry fee to manage crowd size.
“The stadium capacity won’t allow the huge numbers that attended the event before,” he said.
Last year, an estimated 10,000 fans attended the Junior Harambee Starlets’ FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Burundi at Ulinzi Sports Complex. The Starlets won 2–0 to seal a 5–0 aggregate victory and qualify for the World Cup.
The Kip Keino Classic was first held at Nyayo in 2020, moved to the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) for subsequent editions, and returned to Nyayo last year.
