Dandora Stadium has opened its doors to the public after six years.
The Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson opened the sports facility on Friday, 8th March, 2023 to bring to an end the struggles talented youths go through searching for play grounds.
“Both the local football teams from Dandora, Embakasi North community and Nairobi at large will have to utilize the facility and offer youths avenue to showcase their talents and restrain from vices like robbery and alcohol and drug abuse due to idleness” Governor Sakaja Johnson said during the official opening.
“The late city councillor Mugabe Were who had great desire of uplifting this stadium is happy of the work we have put in place to upgrade it. I propose that we rename this facility to Mugabe Were Stadium in honor of the late hero” added Sakaja.
The state-of-the-art sports facility has capacity to accommodate about 4000 people.
It has also artificial turf, flood lights, steel structures to hold the terraces on either side of the Fifa standard pitch (100mx64m at the chalk line), seats in all their stands with a VIP terrace located in the middle of the furthest stand, changing rooms, a fully fitted gym, referee quarters, a stadium manager’s office and public toilets for spectators will be put in place, storm water drainage, pavements and 15 shop stores.
Dandora Stadium is designed and constructed according to FIFA international standards to grow the sports landscape in Nairobi.
The ksh276M facility was subjected to Social Audit by the officials from Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) with the Dandora locals.
The construction of the new Dandora Stadium had stalled in 2019 when the EACC moved to probe the alleged procurement irregularities said to have cost the taxpayers ksh198.9M and forgery of documents during the former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s tenure.
“The construction of this stadium started six years ago by the former governor Mike Sonko, but it was later stopped by the EACC to pave way for investigations. I sought the former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s intervention for resumption of construction” said Sakaja.
After two years of stalemate, construction works at the Dandora Stadium resumed in April 2023, following Governor Sakaja’s intervention.
Other stadia undergoing construction include; Joe Kadenge, Uhuru Sports Complex that is 100% complete in Kamukunji, Mwiki Stadium in Kasarani, Woodley Stadium