The Secret Technique: Expert Reveals How Kenya Can Maintain World-Class Pitches After Concerts at Nyayo, Kasarani.

Kenya has the potential to become a continental leader in football pitch surface management, even with heavy non-sporting use such as concerts and crusades, according to a local turf specialist.

Kenyans have famously been angered before any time crusades and concerts have been held at Nyayo and Kasarani Stadia, especially ever since East Africa was granted the rights to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

Speaking in an interview on the Iko Nini Podcast, Moses Kivusi, who helped with the preparation of Kenya’s stadia that were used to co-host the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) explained that grass pitches are not inherently fragile and, with the right investment and practices, can recover quickly after heavy activity.

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“Grass is actually made to be trampled on — it’s supposed to be played on. It’s a much better surface than bare soil,” Kivusi explained.

“But of course, the grass has its own requirements. The goal is to provide a surface that, even after heavy use, can recover quickly so that play continues without interruption,” he said.

Rather than viewing crusades and concerts as a threat, the expert sees opportunity.

“When people come and trample on the grass, I feel happy because I know it’s an opportunity to do some work,” he said.

“At Ulinzi (Sports Complex during CHAN 2024)  recently, referees trained daily while teams from outside also used the field. We had very little time for maintenance. That is why irrigation systems, mowing equipment, and other management practices are essential. With proper infrastructure, we can restore the pitch in no time.”

The specialist stressed that water supply and drainage remain the most critical factors in sustaining grass surfaces at Nyayo, Kasarani and other major stadiums.

“Stadiums must have at least two water sources — a borehole and city council supply — supported by storage tanks holding over a million liters. That way, when one supply is down, the other keeps the grass hydrated,” he explained.

Proper drainage design, he added, is often overlooked during construction but makes or breaks a pitch.

“When it rains, water must leave the field as quickly as possible. That’s why pitches are built with a crown, slightly sloping from the centre toward the touchlines. Beneath the surface, perforated pipes covered with ballast and sand ensure internal drainage. If this is done professionally, waterlogging should never be an issue.”

Kenya already has one big advantage: access to high-quality agricultural inputs.

“In Kenya, we’re fortunate to have a good inflow of specialized fertilizers. I never struggle to find what to feed my grass.

“ The real struggle is getting the right equipment to apply it properly — tractors, mowers, sprayers, and aerators. To equip a stadium professionally, you need about 40 to 50 million shillings,” he revealed.

With continental tournaments and international matches returning to Kenyan venues, the specialist believes the country must now move from short-term fixes to long-term professional management.

“It’s always better to do the right thing the first time. Stadium pitches are not built like roads or houses — this is a specialized field involving soil, sand, grass and water. 

“If we get it right, Kenya can easily lead the region in pitch management, and every player or fan leaving Nyayo or Kasarani will say:’I have to come back here’,” Kivusi concluded.