How pay-to-play pitches are turning football in Nairobi to a sport for the wealthy

Football is not just a game, it is a way of life, a unifying force, a source of hope and a platform for dreams. It builds communities, nurtures talent, and provides opportunities for many, particularly in grassroots settings where young players aspire to rise beyond their circumstances.

In Nairobi, however, football is slowly becoming a sport for the wealthy.

The playing spaces that once allowed locals to enjoy the game freely have gradually been converted into pay-to-play turfs, limiting access for many aspiring footballers.

Let me shift your focus to one such area in our capital city, Eastleigh, specifically California Estate, home to the historic Desa Grounds.

Desa Grounds, a historic playground in California Estate within Kamukunji Constituency, has roots as old as the estate itself.

Established in the 1960s, it owes its existence to the efforts of former independence minister Tom Mboya who lobbied the American government to build decent housing for Africans in the Pumwani-Majengo area, leading to the creation of California Estate.

Despite its barren surface, which earned it the nickname "Desert", Desa Grounds has long been a nurturing ground for football talent in Nairobi. However, transformation has now befallen the place, with significant development taking shape.

Among these developments is the installation of turf, replacing what was once a rough surface to play on. But at what cost?

The Eastleigh Voice sought to understand the implications of this new reality for a space that was once freely accessible to locals.

Charges

According to Kelvin Omolo, chairman of the Desa Playing Ground Management, and Daudi Mohammed, the pitch will now require payment to use, though the exact fee is yet to be finalised. The turf, designed for seven-a-side matches, is speculated to cost Sh5,000 for every two-hour session.

"For now, it is tricky to give you a definite figure as everything is almost ready, but for one to play, they will need to submit a written request to the management so that we can schedule them. At the moment, we are considering a fee of around Sh5,000 for every two hours, but nothing less than that," said Daudi.

Echoing his sentiments, Omolo added, "Most grounds in Eastleigh charge between Sh3,000 and Sh4,000, but when you compare them to this one, they are much smaller. So, our budget will start from Sh5,000 and above."

With the current tough economic times, will the residents of Eastleigh and local football enthusiasts afford these new price tags? This pressing question raises concerns, as it leaves those less financially privileged unable to access playing spaces to nurture their talent.

Unlike in the past when grounds were easily accessible and free to use, the rise of artificial turfs as the new norm in football across Eastleigh and Nairobi has made the game increasingly expensive.

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Unfortunately, this shift is happening at the expense of locals who cannot afford the Sh5,000 fee, as seen in the case of Desa and many other pitches around the capital.