Nyayo Stadium will host Grace Encounter Nairobi crusade on September 27.
Kenya’s football fraternity is crying foul after it emerged that the refurbished Nyayo National Stadium will be the venue of a major gospel crusade next month.
The event, Grace Encounter Nairobi, is slated for September 27 and will feature international and local gospel stars including Nigeria’s Moses Bliss and Tanzania’s Rose Muhando. With free entry, organisers expect tens of thousands of worshippers to attend.
For the faithful, the crusade is a chance for mass worship. But for football fans, it is a painful reminder of how sporting facilities are often diverted for non-sporting events.
One angry fan posted online:
“We spent millions on this pitch so Kenya can host international matches. Now they want to turn it into a crusade ground?”
Another supporter warned:
“We’ve seen this before. Rallies and concerts ruin the turf. Who will fix it afterwards?”
The controversy comes just months after Nyayo hosted matches in the CHAN tournament. The government has also lined up further renovations, including a canopy, to prepare the stadium for AFCON 2027.
However, critics argue that hiring stadiums for crusades and rallies undermines these investments. They cite past cases, such as the Homa Bay Stadium, which was used for the devolution conference shortly after upgrades.
Stakeholders fear that the cycle of misuse will once again compromise Kenya’s readiness to host CAF and FIFA events.
Football fans are now calling on Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to take urgent steps and ensure stadiums remain dedicated to their primary purpose, sports.
