Govt directs there won’t be spectators for World U20 at Kasarani

The government has announced that the World Athletics Under-20 championships to be held on 17 – 22 August at the Kasarani Stadium will not have spectators.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed made the announcement when she visited Kenyatta University to inspect the tartan track being laid on the turf in the company of event CEO Myke Rabar and Athletics Kenya boss Jackson Tuwei.

“The event will be spectator free unless the situation changes for the better and get greenlight from the World athletics, most of the major events like the Olympics are spectator free. We are going to set up screens in Nairobi and across the country for fans to follow the games,” the CS said, adding she was satisfied with the progress made of the preparations.

“We have been assured that this tartan track is of the international standards and if a record is broken it will be ratified by the World Athletics. We will hand over the facility to the Kenyatta University once its complete.”

On his part, Kenyatta University vice chancellor Professor Paul Wainaina said: “The students, community have been waiting for this project for the last one year, we hope that the other elements that is adding two lanes of the track will be done in time. The standard of our game is going to go up.”

Kenyans will watch the global showpiece from viewing zones which will be set up at different venues across the country. At least 128 countries will be in Nairobi for the event.