Kenyans criticise plan to rename Kipchoge Keino stadium after President Ruto
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang’s plan to rename Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Kapsabet after President William Ruto has sparked sharp criticism from Kenyans, who question sidelining sports legends for political naming.
Kenyans have reacted sharply to the decision to rename the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Kapsabet to William Ruto Stadium, once reconstruction is complete.
The move, announced by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang on December 8, 2025, during the opening of the new Kapsabet Municipality office, has stirred intense debate online and in sports circles.
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Governor Sang explained that the renaming aims to address confusion caused by having another Kipchoge Keino Stadium in nearby Eldoret.
“Because we have Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret and ours is also named Kipchoge Keino, we decided to change ours to William Ruto Stadium here in Kapsabet,” he said. “Sometimes a project is meant for Nandi but ends up in Eldoret because the identical names confuse.”
The governor highlighted the president’s role in securing resources for the stadium upgrade as a key factor behind the renaming.
“We’ve heard of Moi Stadium and Raila Odinga Stadium. We will name ours William Ruto Stadium because he has done the construction job for us,” he added.
Despite the explanation, the renaming has drawn strong criticism online.
One X post read, “Renaming a stadium from a legend who brought this country immense respect and recognition worldwide to a complete corrupt fraud is insane.”
Another user commented, “Renaming a historic stadium after the sitting president feels less like honour and more like political worship. Kipchoge Keino earned his legacy on the track; President Ruto hasn’t earned a stadium, just headlines. This is how leaders rewrite history instead of making it.”
Other Kenyans questioned the timing and necessity of the move.
“Why keep sidelining our sports legends?! There are plenty of other projects that can be named after the President, such as the Talanta Centre or affordable housing. Renaming a facility associated with sports icons shouldn’t be on the table,” one user wrote.
Another remarked, “Attention seeking? Kapsabet, though in the other County of Nandi, should be part of Eldoret City, where Kip Keino Stadium is located. You can’t relocate and rename at the same time, but if somebody is so interested in doing that, then they should know its fame cannot be replaced.”
The current Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Nandi is being relocated to the Kapsabet Showground to make way for a new, ultra-modern 10,000-seat facility.
The stadium project forms part of President Ruto’s promise to deliver 25 new and upgraded sports facilities nationwide by 2027.
According to the president, the initiative is intended to provide world-class infrastructure to help young Kenyans develop professional sports careers.
It also aligns with the “Talanta Hela” program, which aims to transform sports and creative talents into sustainable livelihoods.
These projects are a major pillar of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Beyond employment during construction, the upgraded stadiums are expected to stimulate local economies through sports tourism and hospitality.
Hosting major events like the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will position Kenya as a competitive destination for international sports, while fostering national pride and cohesion.
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