Nyayo Track Nears World-Class Status, Minor Fixes Remain
A Critical Inspection for Global Standards
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 25, 2026— As Kenya counts down to the 7th edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic, attention has shifted from athletes to infrastructure, with a detailed technical inspection underway at Nyayo National Stadium.
At the center of this process is Belgian surveyor Jimmy De Swart, a specialist in sports construction with nearly three decades of experience. He represents Sportinfrabouw NV, a Belgian construction firm specializing in the design, installation, and maintenance of outdoor sports and recreational facilities.
De Swart is among a rare group of experts globally tasked with certifying athletics tracks for international competition.
“In Belgium, there are only two surveyors qualified to work on athletics tracks, and I’m one of them,” he said. “So it’s a big responsibility to ensure a World Athletics-level event can take place here without any issues.”
His role in Nairobi is highly technical, conducting precise measurements of the track, verifying markings, and assessing surface levels to ensure compliance with global athletics standards.
Minor Fixes, Major Implications
Following his initial inspection, De Swart expressed cautious optimism about the state of the facility.
“I’ve just completed the base measurements. So far, I’ve identified a number of small issues, mostly minor and fixable,” he explained.
Among the areas requiring attention are incomplete markings, particularly in field event sections such as the javelin runway, high jump, and pole vault areas. According to De Swart, these gaps may have been caused by weather-related interruptions during construction.
“At the moment, I’ve noticed that some markings are incomplete, possibly due to interruptions like rain,” he noted.
Despite these observations, he emphasized that the issues do not pose a major risk to the event.
“In my professional opinion, these are simple fixes,” he added.
Such details, while appearing minor, are critical in elite athletics, where precision directly impacts athlete performance, officiating accuracy, and the legitimacy of results.
In addition to track certification, the timing and competition equipment is also being tested. The team handling this is led by Kim Peeters from Belgium, ensuring all systems meet World Athletics standards for accuracy and reliability during the event.
Why Precision Determines Records
A central part of De Swart’s mandate is to ensure that Nyayo Stadium can host competitions where performances meet global validation standards—including world records.
“This process guarantees that the track is correctly measured and marked,” he said. “It’s essential because if a world record is set here, the accuracy of the track must be beyond question.”
In international athletics, even the slightest discrepancy in track dimensions or markings can invalidate results, making certification a non-negotiable requirement for top-tier events like the Kip Keino Classic.
Having completed the base measurements, De Swart is now moving into the next phase, producing detailed technical drawings and running comprehensive compliance checks.
“The more critical part is the overall measurement of the track itself,” he said. “I’ll be able to confirm later whether there are any major issues, but so far, nothing suggests serious problems.”
Confidence Builds Ahead of April Showdown
With the April 24 showdown fast approaching, De Swart’s early findings provide reassurance to organizers and athletes preparing for the global meet.
The Kip Keino Classic has grown into one of Africa’s premier athletics competitions, attracting elite international athletes and offering a platform for high-performance outcomes.
The indication that Nyayo Stadium is nearing full compliance with international standards strengthens confidence that Nairobi is ready to deliver a world-class event.
As final adjustments are made, attention will turn to ensuring that all identified fixes are completed in time for competition.
If the final certification confirms current assessments, Nyayo National Stadium could once again take its place on the global athletics stage, ready not just to host competition, but to witness history.
