Government fast-tracking Nyayo Stadium face-lift
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya addresses the media after inspecting the ongoing renovations at the Nyayo National Stadium on October 2, 2025.
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Speaking during an inspection tour of the stadium, which is set to undergo major upgrades ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Mvurya said the government is satisfied with the progress so far.
“We also came here to see how the new developments in the tartan track, which is already being done. This facility here at Nyayo Stadium is also planned for a canopy, so part of the work we will embark on here is to do the canopy. So we are happy with the progress of the tartan track, and in the next week we should be concluding this work,” the CS explained.
The stadium, which will be closed after the 2025 Safari Sevens to allow renovations, according to reports, is expected to get a new canopy over the main stands and a freshly laid tartan track. These improvements are part of wider efforts to raise infrastructure standards ahead of Kenya’s co-hosting of AFCON 2027.
On the sensitive matter of doping, Mvurya provided a detailed update on the country’s compliance journey. Kenya has been under the spotlight after WADA declared the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) non-compliant as of October 3, 2025, citing failures to resolve issues flagged in a May 2024 audit.
“The World Anti-Doping Agency did an audit in May 2024. They gave us a report on the 30th of September 2024, and that report presented 35 issues. Today I’m very happy to report that 30 of the 35 issues have now been resolved and dropped, and right now I can confidently say that Kenya is on the right track to compliance,” Mvurya said.
He assured athletes and the public that the remaining gaps are being addressed.
“The five we have an action plan which we have shared and therefore in the next few days then we will be able to hear from the World Anti-Doping Agency. So there should be no cause for alarm. We are on schedule. We are on track.”
Mvurya added that the government is working with the Treasury to ring-fence funding for anti-doping activities, stressing Kenya’s determination to restore credibility and protect its athletes’ future on the global stage.
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