Row emerges over Kimorori playground in Kenol as youths block construction of government offices

For more than a decade, Kimorori grounds in Kenol town has been more than just an open field.

It has been a place where children spend their holidays playing football, where young men and women hone their sporting talents and where the community gathers for political meetings and social events.

But on Wednesday morning, the familiar calm was broken when youths spotted trucks offloading construction materials at the site.

Alarmed, they rushed to the field, demanding the machinery be removed, fearing they were about to lose their only playground.

“This ground has produced professional players now in the national league,” said resident Kimani Njeri. “Children spend their weekends here. If it goes, where will they play?”

Kenol has grown rapidly in recent years, its location on the Kenol–Sagana–Marua dual carriageway turning it into a gateway to Mt Kenya and a residential choice for workers commuting to Thika and Nairobi. But with growth has come crime.

Many residents credit Kimorori grounds with keeping youths busy, away from drugs and petty theft.

“Whenever the boys are here training, they’re too tired to cause trouble,” said Samuel Warutere, captain of Keitt FC.

His teammate, Jeff Njuguna, added, “The ground is always full when schools close. If it is closed, crime will rise.” Yet government officials argue the land was never officially designated as a playground.

Deputy county commissioner Gitonga Murungi insists it belongs to the state and was donated decades ago by Ngimu Farm Company for government use. “All this land is under one title. While it has been used for sports, it is earmarked for expansion of government offices, including an ICT hub, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices and police quarters,” Murungi said.

Area MP Mary Waithera backed the plan, noting that services must expand with the town’s growth. She pointed to alternative land ceded by Del Monte in Kabati, where a stadium has been promised by the Ministry of Sports.

But for Kenol’s residents, the promise of a future stadium miles away offers little comfort. To them, Kimorori grounds is not just a piece of land — it is the heartbeat of a community trying to balance growth with identity.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The dispute over Kimorori grounds highlights Kenya’s recurring tension between rapid urban growth and dwindling public spaces. For over a decade, the field has served as a sporting and social hub, nurturing talent and steering youths from crime. Residents see its loss as a blow to community cohesion. However, government officials insist the land was earmarked for offices, citing legal ownership. The promised Kabati stadium may ease tensions, but relocation risks alienating residents. Unless authorities balance service delivery with preservation of recreational spaces, Kenol’s transformation into a regional hub may come at the expense of its social fabric.

Maragua MP Mary Waithera talking to youths who stopped excavators from digging at Kimorori grounds in Kenol town on September 3, 2025