Nakuru, Kenya – June 17, 2025
A tense standoff unfolded at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Tuesday as police officers were deployed in large numbers to evict informal traders and settlers from the stadium’s grounds. The move has sparked widespread public outcry over alleged plans by the Nakuru County Government, led by Governor Susan Kihika, to rezone parts of the stadium for a proposed affordable housing project.
Local residents, community groups, and civil society activists say the evictions are part of a broader effort to privatize or repurpose public land under the guise of the national housing agenda. They are calling for the stadium to be preserved as a public cultural and sporting heritage site.
Stadium or Housing?
Afraha Stadium, a landmark in Nakuru with a rich history in sports and politics, has long served as a public space for athletics, football, political rallies, and community events. Reports that the stadium could be rezoned for housing development have ignited fierce resistance.
“We are not against housing, but why destroy our sports grounds to build it?” asked Joshua Kibet, a local football coach. “Afraha is one of the few spaces young people have for training, tournaments, and recreation.”
Though county officials insist that no final decision has been made, multiple community members claim they have seen surveyors and contractors inspecting the grounds in recent weeks.
Police Presence and Evictions
On Tuesday morning, dozens of officers surrounded the stadium and began removing informal traders who had set up stalls in and around the stadium compound. Tensions flared as some resisted eviction, accusing the county of targeting the vulnerable without offering relocation alternatives.
Activists also criticized the deployment of police as excessive and intimidatory, arguing that dialogue—not force—should be used to resolve the dispute.
Backlash Against Governor Susan Kihika
Governor Susan Kihika’s administration is under increasing pressure to come clean on land use plans for the Afraha site. Critics accuse her of facilitating land grabs under the pretense of the national affordable housing initiative—a controversial program that has faced pushback in other parts of Kenya for targeting public spaces and bypassing community input.
A coalition of NGOs and civic groups is now demanding:
- A public consultation forum on the future of Afraha Stadium
- A legal moratorium on any construction or rezoning until proper review
- The designation of Afraha as a protected heritage and sports site
A Symbol of Public Space in Peril
The Afraha dispute echoes broader national concerns about the shrinking of accessible public land in urban centers, particularly for recreation, culture, and youth development. For many in Nakuru, the stadium represents not just a venue—but a symbol of communal identity and public good.
“We’ve seen too many playgrounds turned into parking lots and estates,” said Mary Wanjiru, a youth leader. “Afraha must not be next.”
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