A standoff is looming in Nakuru County after residents moved to block the proposed development of affordable housing units on a piece of land adjacent to the Afraha Stadium.
The Afraha Annex, which has been the centre of sporting activities in the county for years, is reportedly being targeted by the county government for the affordable housing project, in a move that has been vehemently opposed by local residents.
On June 12, county officials visited the site to conduct a feasibility assessment for the planned housing units, sparking concern from sports enthusiasts and stakeholders in the area.
The Nakuru County government also confirmed plans for the affordable housing units through a since-deleted post on their official Facebook page.
“The County Government of Nakuru has reaffirmed its commitment to affordable housing development as County Chief Officer for Housing and Development, Arch. Kamau Kuria, conducted an official inspection of the site earmarked for the upcoming social housing project," the post read in part.
While the post was taken down following an outrage, damage was already done as residents were up in arms, insisting that a move to reallocate recreational public land without adequate consultation undermined community interests.
Sports enthusiasts in the county also argue that the space is crucial for the future development of sports facilities, especially because the main Afraha Stadium does not accommodate some sports disciplines like basketball and indoor sports.
The Afraha Stadium has been due for upgrades since 2022, when the World Bank pumped Ksh650 million to go towards its upgrade.
While upgrades have been made in recent years, including upgrading the murram track into a blue tartan surface, the fate of the Annex has remained unknown.
Kenyans.co.ke has since established that the Afraha Annex is a huge asset to the local community, as local teams and school children use it as a play area, particularly during weekends.
With a public participation exercise set to take place on Wednesday, human rights activists have since filed a petition at the Nakuru County assembly in a bid to stop the project.
This is not the first time residents have mounted a resistance against an affordable housing project. In March 2025, residents of Lang'ata constituency in Nairobi contested a Ksh25 billion housing project by the government over land and privacy issues.
