Court halts further development of Ruringu Stadium

The Land and Environmental Court in Nyeri has extended orders blocking Sports Kenya and the local County Government from developing Ruringu Stadium until March 16 citing a violation of land laws and property rights.

The court also directed Sports Kenya and the devolved government against encroaching on the stadium whose renovation works are valued at Ksh250m.

The case was filed on February 6 by the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) who used to hold their annual trade fair on the facility until they shifted to Kabiruini to stop renovations arguing it was not consulted while blaming the two parties for illegally evicting tenants who resided at the grounds.

Lady Justice Abigail Mshila ordered the parties to file the replying affidavits within 14 days.

The County Government’s lawyer Makena Kaburu told the court that the administration will conduct a historic search of the stadium before the case enters inter-parties hearing.

The suit was scheduled for hearing but was postponed after ASK lawyer Albert Wafula said the other parties were yet to respond to his client’s affidavit.

ASK further argued that the improvements on the stadium will make it difficult for farmers and other entrepreneurs to display their commodities during the annual agricultural shows.

“ASK is the registered owner of the property in suit and unless the respondents are restrained by the court it will suffer irreparable loss and damage,” Wafula said.

Sports Kenya responded that it is intending to improve the stadium in efforts to encourage sporting activities in the region and also countrywide.