Revelations that the Nakuru County Government is planning to hand over the historic Afraha Annex grounds for President William Ruto's affordable housing project have sparked outrage, with residents threatening legal action to stop the move.
Over the weekend, Governor Susan Kihika announced on social media that the Afraha Annex Stadium grounds in Nakuru City had been earmarked for the construction of low-cost homes under the national housing agenda.
“The County Government of Nakuru has affirmed its commitment to affordable housing development. Today, the Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Kamau Kuria, conducted an official inspection of the site earmarked for the upcoming social housing project,” read the post, which was accompanied by photos showing county officials surveying the grounds.
Veterans Social Football Club players train at Afraha Stadium annex field on June 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
The move sparked swift backlash from local sports enthusiasts, leaders and civil society groups who accused the county of attempting to convert a critical public sporting facility into a housing area without conducting public participation as required by law. Following the uproar, the post was later deleted from the county’s official social media pages.
“When did public participation happen? Who approved converting a public sporting field into a housing project? As Nakuru residents and sports enthusiasts, we will not allow this to happen,” said Hassan Hussein, a local football coach who frequently uses the grounds for team training.
He said that the Afraha Annex serves not only as a training and warm up area for athletes but also complements the main Afraha Stadium, enhancing its status as an international standard sports venue.
Veterans Social Football Club players train at Afraha Stadium annex field on June 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Janet Mkenya, a youth leader and activist, termed the plan “reckless and in bad faith”.
“This field has always been a dedicated social amenity. There are many idle parcels of land in Nakuru that can accommodate the affordable housing project. Afraha Annex should not be touched,” she said.
Victor Ngatia, a local politician and sports promoter, described the move as a betrayal of Nakuru’s sports community. “Afraha Stadium is a national treasure. Governor Kihika must know we will not sit back and watch it being handed over for housing construction. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Dr Peter Mbae, Secretary for Economic Planning at the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and a former Head of the Government Delivery Unit, threatened legal action. “Our lawyers are on standby. We won’t allow the county or national governments to repurpose a sports training ground for other uses. We will sue to protect Afraha Annex,” he said.
In response to the backlash, Nakuru County Director of Communications, Mr Bernard Namumane, later claimed that the social media post was made in error. “There are no plans to build affordable houses on Afraha Stadium grounds. The person who posted the information did not consult,” he said.
Afraha Stadium annex field on June 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
However, Governor Kihika has yet to issue a personal statement on the matter.
Apart from its sporting role, Afraha Annex holds deep historical and political significance. It is where the Jubilee Alliance between Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto was unveiled in 2013. The venue later hosted the launch of the Jubilee Party in 2016 following the merger of The National Alliance (TNA) and the United Republican Party (URP) ahead of the 2017 General Election.
In December 2016, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto returned to the venue to lead thanksgiving prayers following the collapse of their International Criminal Court (ICC) cases.
“This ground is more than just a playing field. It is a place of political and historical memory. Turning it into a housing project would be erasing Nakuru’s heritage,” said Gilbert Kabage, patron of the Rift Valley Council of Elders.
Veterans Social Football Club players train at Afraha Stadium annex field on June 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Afraha Annex has also hosted major religious crusades, political rallies and public gatherings in Nakuru City. During the 2007 post-election violence, the grounds alongside the main Afraha Stadium served as a temporary camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from across the Rift Valley.
Critics of the plan insist that the government should explore alternative sites for the affordable housing project that do not compromise public recreational spaces or erase historical landmarks. “The government must remember that public spaces exist to serve the people, not to be quietly handed over for other interests,” she said.
