As Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda, gears up to host the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a quiet revolution is taking place on the ground—literally.
For years, the poor state of Kenyan pitches has been a source of national concern and embarrassment, often forcing match postponements and hindering player performance.
In 2021, the situation was so bad that CAF banned both Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums from hosting international matches due to their failure to meet FIFA and CAF standards, particularly regarding pitch conditions.
This ban forced Kenyan football teams, including Gor Mahia and Tusker, to seek alternative venues in neighboring countries like Tanzania, Uganda, or Rwanda for their CAF Confederation Cup matches.
However, today the story is different. Walk into Nyayo or Kasarani and you’re guaranteed to be impressed, if not amazed, by the lush green grass that befits even the world’s biggest stages.
The man behind this green transformation is Moses Kivungi. He is a turf grass management consultant whose expertise is reshaping the future of sports in East and Central Africa.
Traditionally, the turfing of our country’s top sports venues has often been outsourced to foreign firms. This time, however, Kivungi and his team undertook the seven-month-long project to ensure Kenya’s pitches are world-class.
In a recent interview, Kivungi noted that a pitch is far more than just a field of grass, describing it instead as the stage where athletes perform. “The way we take care of our grass and the grass type have a lot of impact on the flow of a game,” he said. “Sometimes players do not enjoy a game simply because the grass is not of the right quality or has not been trimmed to the right standards.”
According to him, the primary reason for the low standards of football in Kenya is poorly maintained pitches, which cause players to lose energy and experience high stress levels.
While his expertise lies in selecting the right grass for the right purpose, not all types of grass are ideal for sports pitches. For instance, CAF had recommended the use of the hybrid Bermuda grass in Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums instead of the usual Kikuyu grass.
FIFA also recommends the use of the TifSport Bermuda grass, whose growth forms a dense carpet that allows the ball to roll easily and protects players from injury.
Kivungi’s impressive portfolio extends far beyond Kenya’s borders. One of his most celebrated projects is the turfing of Rwanda’s state-of-the-art Amahoro Stadium, which was launched by President Paul Kagame in 2024 to a crowd of 45,000.
Back home, his meticulous work can be seen at the Ulinzi Sports Stadium, Police Sacco Stadium, and the International School of Kenya. He has also led reclamation projects for other grounds like the Utalii football pitch and the Hope Centre pitch in Kawangware.
The 2025 CAF African Nations Championship will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania and will feature 19 national teams from across the continent.