National · Historic • Nairobi, Kenya

Nyayo National Stadium

Capacity 30,000

Built 1983

Home clubs

A AFC Leopards G Gor Mahia

Buy tickets How to get there Seat map

Stadium Snapshot

Address Uhuru Highway, Nairobi CBD
Capacity 30,000
Surface Natural grass
Built 1983
Renovated 2016, 2024
Record attendance 30,000 (post-2016 refurbishment reopening)
Architect Ministry of Works Kenya
Owner Sports Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya

Uhuru Highway, Nairobi CBD 00100

Open Maps

Nearby Recommendations

InterContinental Nairobi

1 km · 3 min drive

KES₵₵₵₵

Sarova Stanley

1.5 km · 5 min drive

KES₵₵₵₵

Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi

3 km · 8 min drive

KES₵₵₵

See all nearby

Section Guide

Find Your Best View

High Demand

Premium

Nyayo National Stadium bowl

Home End (Block A, North)

AFC Leopards ultras Ingwe. Behind the north goal. Drums, flags, vuvuzelas — the loudest block.

Price Range KES 200–500 (KPL) · KES 500–1,500 (NT)

Main Stand (Covered, East)

TV-camera side, covered, cushioned seats. VIP sections adjacent. Best view of play.

Price Range KES 1,200–4,000 · VIP from KES 8,000

Family Stand (West)

Mixed crowd, no-flares policy, recommended with children. Partially covered.

Price Range KES 300–800

Away End (South, Block D)

Segregation zone for travelling supporters. Separate entry and police escort on derby days.

Price Range KES 200–500

How to get there

By car By taxi / ride-hail By bus / matatu From the airport

By car

5–20 min from Nairobi CBD

Typical Fare

Indicative pricing

Est. cost Uber from CBD: KES 300–600

Nyayo sits at the Uhuru Highway, Langata Road, and Aerodrome Road junction in central Nairobi, a 5-minute drive from the CBD and 10 minutes from Westlands. The drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport runs 30–50 minutes via Mombasa Road.

On-site parking for roughly 1,500 cars; fills 2 hours before Harambee Stars kickoff
Overflow parking at Nyayo House and the nearby Aerodrome Road lots
Arrive early on derby match-days — Uhuru Highway backs up heavily
Uber, Bolt, and Little Cab all work reliably at Nyayo

By taxi / ride-hail

Uber, Bolt, or Little Cab from anywhere in Nairobi

Typical Fare

Indicative pricing

Est. cost Bolt from Westlands: KES 400–800

Nyayo is the easiest Nairobi stadium for ride-hail — central, well-lit, and always covered. All three apps run heavy match-day coverage. Drop-off is at the main gate on Uhuru Highway; pickup after full time is at the Aerodrome Road side to avoid the Uhuru Highway jam.

M-PESA accepted by every driver in Nairobi
Match-day surge on Bolt rarely passes 30 percent for Nyayo
Post-match pickup: cross to Aerodrome Road for faster clearance

By bus / matatu

Matatus along Uhuru Highway and Langata Road

Typical Fare

Indicative pricing

Est. cost Matatu: KES 30–70

Matatus running the Langata, Rongai, and Mombasa Road routes all pass Nyayo. Fares from the CBD run KES 30–70 depending on route. The Nairobi Commuter Rail stops at Nairobi Central Station, a 1.5 km walk from the stadium.

From CBD: any matatu marked 'Langata', 'Rongai', or 'Mombasa Road'
From Westlands: switch at Railways stage

From the airport

18 km · 30–50 minutes via Mombasa Road

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 18 km south-east of Nyayo. The drive runs 30 minutes off-peak and 50 minutes in rush hour. Uber and Bolt run from the airport taxi lot. The drive is shorter to Nyayo than to Kasarani.

Pre-book a hotel pickup for match-day morning arrivals
Airport → Nyayo: Bolt KES 1,200–2,200 · airport taxi KES 2,500–3,500

Where to buy tickets

Official

FKF Ticketing + Mookh app

Football Kenya Federation runs Harambee Stars ticketing through the Mookh app and fkf.co.ke. KPL fixtures for AFC Leopards sell through the club office at Nyayo and Mookh.

Check current fixtures

Trusted resellers

Whitelisted secondary market

When the official portal sells out, these are the only resellers we recommend.

Mookh Africa Ticketsasa

Typical price ranges

KPL league

KES 200–500

Mashemeji Derby

KES 300–1,200

Harambee Stars friendly

KES 500–1,500

World Cup qualifier

KES 800–2,500

AFCON 2027 group match

KES 1,000–4,000

Do not buy printed tickets from sellers outside the main gate on Uhuru Highway. Fakes circulate for derby fixtures and Harambee Stars qualifiers. Buy through Mookh, Ticketsasa, fkf.co.ke, or the AFC Leopards club office.

Match-Day Timeline

−2.5h

Gates open

Slightly later than Kasarani — Nyayo fills quickly from 1 hour pre-kickoff

Kickoff −2.5h

−2h

Warm-up begins

Concessions open; full service from −1h

−2h

−90m

Team arrival

Tunnel view from the Main Stand forecourt

−90 min

−30m

Pre-match announcement

National anthem rehearsal, Ingwe chants peak

−30 min

Kickoff

Match begins

Kickoff

Half-time concessions

Queues peak 45–55 min

FT +20m

Staggered exit

Home blocks first, away fans held 30 min; Uhuru Highway direction prioritised

FT +20 min

Bag policy

Small bags only. Large bags not permitted. No cloakroom on-site.

Cashless pref.

Concessions accept cash, card, and M-PESA QR. M-PESA is usually the fastest line.

Outside food

No outside food or drink. Sealed water bottles up to 500ml permitted from main entry.

Safety & fan tips

Nyayo match-days are generally peaceful, though the central location means the Uhuru Highway crush is the main friction point before kickoff and again at full time. Visible police and stewards cover every gate; on-site medical cover comes from St John Ambulance Kenya. The 2016 refurbishment widened exit gates and the 2024 AFCON preparation work added permanent medical bays at every block.

Body and bag search at every gate. Police may pause entry if a block reaches capacity — comply, do not push forward.
Keep cash and phone split across two pockets. The turnstile queue and the CBD-bound matatu stage after full time are the main pickpocket zones.
Do not wear away colours in Block A. Mashemeji Derby segregation is strict and enforced.
St John Ambulance Kenya on-site at every Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards fixture. First-aid bays at every stairwell post-2024.
Follow steward directions at full time. Staggered exits are mandatory under the AFCON 2027 protocol.

Stadium medical +254-20-2113-139

Police (Nairobi) 999

St John Ambulance +254-721-225-285

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible viewing platform at the Main Stand south-east, capacity 80
Elevator to Main Stand VIP — accessible entry from VIP gate
Hearing loop active in Main Stand VIP; request at VIP gate
Accessible parking at the east car park Bays 1–12 — reserved, book via Mookh or FKF portal
Accessible washrooms at every concourse stairwell post-2024 upgrade
Companion ticket free — apply to FKF 7+ days in advance with medical documentation

Where to stay and eat nearby

Hotels — walkable

InterContinental Nairobi

1 km · 3 min drive · KES₵₵₵₵

CBD five-star adjacent to KICC. Within walking distance of Nyayo on non-match-days.

Book on IHG

Sarova Stanley

1.5 km · 5 min drive · KES₵₵₵₵

Historic CBD five-star. Standard pre-match stay for visiting supporters and officials.

Book on Sarova

Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi

3 km · 8 min drive · KES₵₵₵

Four-star on Airport Road with reliable CBD access. Good for one-night match-day visits.

Book on Hilton

Pre-match bars

Sierra Brasserie — CBD

1.5 km · KES₵₵

Craft beer and nyama choma in the CBD. Popular with AFC Leopards supporters.

Simmers Bar — CBD

1.5 km · KES₵₵

Long-standing Nairobi CBD sports bar with big-screen TVs and live music on match-days.

K1 Klub House — Parklands

5 km · KES₵₵

Open-air bar and grill with sports TVs. Mixed crowd, easy pre-match atmosphere.

Post-match food

Mama Oliech's — Hurlingham

4 km · KES₵₵

Tilapia and ugali; Nairobi favourite after KPL fixtures.

Tamarind Nairobi — Aga Khan

3 km · KES₵₵₵

Seafood fine dining with late kitchen. Good pick for a quiet post-match dinner.

Kosewe Ranalo Foods — CBD

1.5 km · KES₵

Classic Nairobi tilapia joint, cash-friendly, open late on match-nights.

Historical Significance

Nyayo National Stadium opened in 1983 at the junction of Uhuru Highway, Langata Road, and Aerodrome Road. The name is drawn from Nyayo, the Swahili word for footsteps, which was the political slogan of President Daniel arap Moi during the decade the stadium was built. Through the 1980s and 1990s Nyayo was the Harambee Stars primary home and hosted CECAFA Cup fixtures, international friendlies, and the Mashemeji Derby. The ground fell into disrepair through the 2000s and was closed for the 2016 refurbishment that replaced the pitch, rewired the floodlighting, and reopened with a 30,000 capacity. A further 2024 refurbishment for AFCON 2027 preparation widened exit gates, added permanent medical bays, and renovated the concourse plumbing and dressing rooms.

Built

1983

Renovated

2024

Surface

Natural grass

Record

30,000

Notable matches

25 Feb 1983

Kenya 2–1 Zimbabwe

2–1

Stadium inauguration — Harambee Stars' first fixture at Nyayo.

01 Jul 1989

Gor Mahia 2–1 AFC Leopards

2–1

Mashemeji Derby. One of the era-defining derby matches at Nyayo, full-house atmosphere.

28 May 2017

Kenya 2–1 Congo

2–1

First Harambee Stars match after the 2016 refurbishment — sold out at the new 30,000 capacity.

13 Oct 2024

Kenya 2–0 Zimbabwe

2–0

AFCON 2027 qualifier, first full-capacity Harambee Stars fixture after the 2024 refurbishment programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capacity of Nyayo National Stadium?

30,000 after the 2016 refurbishment. The record attendance matches capacity at 30,000, set at the 2016 reopening. On Mashemeji Derby and Harambee Stars fixtures the FKF caps sales at roughly 28,000 to leave movement space in aisles and safety zones.

Where is Nyayo National Stadium located?

Uhuru Highway, at the junction of Langata Road and Aerodrome Road, in central Nairobi. The drive from the CBD is 5 minutes off-peak and 20 minutes on match-days. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 18 km south-east via Mombasa Road, a 30–50 minute run depending on traffic.

Who plays at Nyayo National Stadium?

AFC Leopards is the KPL primary tenant and plays most home fixtures here. Gor Mahia shares Nyayo for selected Mashemeji Derby fixtures when demand fits the 30,000 capacity. Harambee Stars play qualifiers and friendlies here when Kasarani is unavailable.

How much are tickets at Nyayo?

KPL league tickets run KES 200–500. Mashemeji Derby pricing reaches KES 300–1,200. Harambee Stars friendlies go KES 500–1,500. World Cup qualifiers cost KES 800–2,500. AFCON 2027 group matches are projected at KES 1,000–4,000. Buy through Mookh, Ticketsasa, fkf.co.ke, or the AFC Leopards office.

What are the Nyayo stadium events today?

Check the FKF and AFC Leopards fixture lists for today's schedule. The stadium typically hosts KPL fixtures on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, plus occasional midweek cup games. Harambee Stars match-days are announced by the Football Kenya Federation through fkf.co.ke and the Mookh app.

When was Nyayo National Stadium built?

1983, during the Moi presidency. The name comes from Nyayo, the Swahili word for footsteps, which was Moi's political slogan. The stadium was refurbished in 2016 and again in 2024 — the 2024 works were part of AFCON 2027 preparation and included widened exit gates, permanent medical bays, and a full concourse upgrade.

How do I get to Nyayo without a car?

Uber, Bolt, or Little Cab from anywhere in Nairobi — KES 300–600 from the CBD, KES 400–800 from Westlands. Matatus on the Langata, Rongai, and Mombasa Road routes all pass Nyayo for KES 30–70. From Jomo Kenyatta Airport the run is 30 minutes via Mombasa Road, KES 1,200–2,200 on Bolt.

Who owns Nyayo National Stadium?

The Government of Kenya owns Nyayo and operates it through Sports Kenya, the parastatal within the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage. AFC Leopards is the match-day tenant for KPL fixtures. The Football Kenya Federation is the match-day tenant for Harambee Stars fixtures.

Country

Football in Kenya

League

Kenyan Premier League