A stadium  stadiums or stadia is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event. Top 10 largest stadiums in Kenya

Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event at the ancient Greek Olympic festival was the race that comprised one length of the stadion at Olympia, where the word “stadium” originated.

Most of the stadiums with a capacity of at least 10,000 are used for association football. Other popular stadium sports include gridiron football, baseball, cricket, the various codes of rugby, field lacrosse, bandy, and bullfighting. Many large sports venues are also used for concerts.

Here is a List of Top 10 largest stadiums in Kenya

Rank Stadium County Capacity

Moi International Sports Centre Nairobi – 60,000

The Moi International Sports Centre (abbreviated as MISC) 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 arena 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. Located at 1,612 metres above sea level, it is slightly above 1 mile in altitude.

The stadium was closed in January 2010 for renovation works worth KSh.900 million/= and 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.

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

Facilities

• Kasarani Stadium (Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani)
• Kasarani 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.

Nyayo National Stadium Nairobi 30,000

Nyayo National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located at the square of Mombasa Road, Langata Road and the Aerodrome Road. It is approximately two kilometers from the City Center, directly opposite Nairobi Mega Mall, formerly known as Nakumatt Mega. The stadium was built in 1983 for a capacity of 15,000. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The popular AFC Leopards football club plays most of its home games at Nyayo stadium. The stadium is also used for athletics , swimming and various ceremonies most common of which are National Holiday celebrations. Other facilities at the Nyayo Stadium include a gymnasium and a 50-metre swimming pool. Rugby union club Mwamba RFC used the Nyayo National Stadium for home games.

The completion of the Nyayo Stadium gave Kenya the opportunity to be placed in the category of nations that were invited to bid for the 4th All-Africa Games in 1987, a bid that was awarded to Kenya, giving it International status. In essence, the Nyayo Stadium “gave birth” to Moi International Sports Centre.

The Nyayo Stadium was the host venue of the 2010 African Championships in Athletics.

The stadium was renamed to the Coca-Cola National Stadium after the multi-national company won the naming rights to the stadium in February 2009. The deal was worth US$1.5 million and would have seen the beverage company do branding, marketing and naming to the whole stadium for three years. Three months later, however, Coca-Cola withdrew from the contract, because the Kenyan government wanted to have the stadium branded as Coca-Cola Nyayo National Stadium. but was renamed again to the Nyayo National Stadium, as the Government of Kenya wanted it branded. This decision has been widely criticised by many Kenyan citizens, because they believe that Coca-Cola would have heavily improved and popularised the stadium.

The stadium houses headquarters for the Football Kenya Federation and Athletics Kenya.

Bukhungu Stadium Kakamega 30,000

The Bukhungu Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kakamega, Kenya. It used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Western Stima of the Kenyan Premier League. The stadium holds 5,000 spectators.

The stadium has been undergoing renovation and expansion with phase one of the main stand complete. Phase 2 involving the rest of the terraces and running track already commenced. The stadium’s name came from Idaho name “okhungwa” meaning being chased away. The ground was used by European in 19th century for relaxing and enjoying western breeze from kakamega forest just located east of stadium, so police used to chase Africans away of field to not interfere with white people, so luhyas called the field ” shikuri shukhukhungwa” “ebukhungu” meaning the field of being chased away.

Afraha Stadium Nakuru 20,000

The Afraha Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nakuru, Kenya. It used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Nakuru AllStars of the Kenyan Premier League and Ulinzi Stars of the Kenyan Premier League. The stadium holds 8,200 people and opened in 1948. The stadium is two kilometres from the famous Lake Nakuru National Park. Even though it is a football stadium, it became famous for hosting many political meetings including the GEMA promoted change the constitution series held in the 1970s. The former ruling party KANU also held many prominent meetings there during the Moi era.

Muhoroni Stadium Kisumu 20,000

The Muhoroni Stadium previously called Biafra Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Muhoroni, Kenya. It used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Muhoroni Youth of the Kenyan Premier League since 2012

The stadium holds 20,000 people and is owned by Muhoroni Youth Football Club. The Clubs Champion partner is Muhoroni Sugar Company who donated the land to the community. The company though in receivership management is a leading Brown Sugar manufacturer from which Muhoroni sugar is derived.

Moi Kinoru Stadium Meru 18,000

Nairobi City Stadium Nairobi 15,000

Nairobi City Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located east of the city centre. The stadium is owned by the Nairobi City Council.

The stadium was originally known as African Stadium, then renamed to Donholm Road Stadium. It was renamed to Jogoo Road Stadium after Kenya gained independence in 1963 and finally to Nairobi City Stadium.

It was the principal stadium in Nairobi until the 1980s when Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre were built. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of the traditional Gor Mahia and some other local clubs. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 people.

Probably the highest profile athletics competition held at Nairobi City Stadium was Jomo Kenyatta memorial meeting in 1979. International athletes like Edwin Moses, Alberto Salazar and Henry Rono participated.

According to press reports, City stadium is set to have the first artificial turf in Kenya. The project will be funded by FIFA . This synthetic turf pitch, called Xtreme Turf, is manufactured and being installed by ACT Global Sports.

Kenyatta Stadium Machakos 10,000

Mombasa Municipal Stadium Mombasa 10,000

Municipal Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Mombasa, Kenya. It is used mostly for football matches and holds 10,000 people.

Kipchoge Keino Stadium Uasin Gishu 10,000  

Mumias Sports Complex Kakamega 10,000

Mumias Sports Complex is a multi-use stadium in Mumias, Kenya. It is used mostly for football matches and was the home stadium of the defunct Mumias Sugar F.C. The stadium holds 10,000 people. This was one of the venues for the 2009 CECAFA Cup held in Kenya between 28 November and 12 December 2009. For the 2011 season and following a big money sponsorship deal by the Mumias Sugar company, local giants AFC Leopards SC, popularly known as Ingwe, will use both the Nyayo national stadium and the Mumias Sports Complex as their home ground. The first match to be played by Ingwe at the Mumias Sports Complex in the 2011 season was against Karuturi sports which Ingwe won 1–0. Notably, the AFC Leopards VS Gor Mahia tie which had earlier been scheduled for the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani (MISC) on June 5th will be played at the Mumias Sports Complex

KPL Pace setters Tusker Fc are said to have opted to take their crunch tie against Gor Mahia Fc on May 21st to the Mumias Sports complex too. The tie had been set to be played at the MISC but the stadium will not be ready in time.

Most recently, Vihiga United has been using it as their home for the Kenyan Premier League while Nzoia Sugar FC has ask been using it occasionally.

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