A rent demand for millions of shillings has sparked a major battle over ownership of the famous Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) ground in Nairobi.
On March 3, 2025, RFUEA chairman George Kariuki demanded that the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) pay rent arrears of Sh16.8 million or face eviction from the iconic 10-acre venue, regarded as the home of rugby. The demand prompted KRU to seek legal redress while claiming ownership of the land.
Maxwell Omondi (centre) of Nondescripts charge past Samuel Simwata, Mohammed Khaidur and Jeff Kiragu of Kenya Harlequin in a Kenya Cup rugby league match at RFUEA ground on January 10, 2025.
Photo credit: CHRIS OMOLLO
KRU, through its lawyers, Olendo Orare and Samba Advocates, challenged the directive at the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT), arguing that RFUEA ceased to exist and that the land was donated by the government for local rugby development.
SDT chairman Bernard Murunga issued a temporary injunction on November 24, restraining RFUEA, its trustees George Kariuki, Richard Omwela, and Richard Njoba, the Registrar of Sports, and their agents from demanding Sh16.8 million or any rent, pending hearing.
The SDT also issued a temporary injunction restraining RFUEA from interfering with KRU’s possession and use of Land Parcel No. 209/4529 as its rugby headquarters and for the national team’s preparation and hosting of international matches and events, pending the hearing.
KRU also wants RFUEA barred from collecting rent from the firms that have been subleased at the ground, namely Orchid Encore Limited, Area One Limited, Alpha Fit Limited, and Agulu Nartin and Eve Limited, and instead have the rent deposited in a joint account in the names of their lawyers, RFUEA, or the SDT.
The Kenyan union is also praying that RFUEA be declared non-existent and thus unable to legally hold property in Kenya.
Also enjoined in the suit are the Principal Secretary at the State Department of Sports, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Land and Physical Planning, and the Attorney General of Kenya.
RFUEA has, in turn, challenged the SDT’s jurisdiction to hear the case, noting that the matter concerns property and not sports disputes.
In their application, KRU said that RFUEA has not held elections for 25 years, which contravenes Clause 22 of the RFUEA Constitution and the Sports Act.
KRU argues that the collapse of the East African Community in 1977 led to the rise of the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) as the national body managing the game in Kenya, and that RFUEA was told to fold and hand over the proprietorship of all its assets, including the land in question, to the Kenyan body.
Naomi Amuguni (centre) of Kenya evades a tackle from Peace Lekuru (left) of Uganda during the Africa Women’s Sevens Cup at RFUEA ground in Nairobi on November 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
In their papers, KRU say that the Rugby Football Union of Kenya (RFUK) was founded in 1921 in Nairobi to run the game in the country. In 1951, the government granted RFUK an eight-acre piece of land, where today’s rugby ground stands, for the development of the game.
In 1953, RFUK changed its name to RFUEA. KRU indicated that RFUEA had declined to hand over ownership of the land.
