NAIROBI, Kenya, October 7- Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) is gaining ground on the proposed allocation of a 100-acre parcel of land earmarked for a motor sports complex.
This emerged in the wake of a landmark meeting between KMSF Directors and the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) at Kasarani on Thursday.
KMSF Directors Surinder Thatthi and Dave Macharia held lengthy discussions with SSMB top brass before proceeding for a familiarization tour of the land. The land is located behind the main MISC Kasarani Complex.
Macharia, also the Chairman of the KMSF Board of Directors, said plans are underway to acquire a joint title deed with SSMB after which a comprehensive strategic plan will be put into action.
Once the plans are formalised, KMSF intends to use the land to construct a 1.2km world class karting track as well as to develop race tracks for autocross and motocross.
“Today we had invited them (KMSF) to come and see how they can present their proposal and how we can do it together with the SSMB. We are interested in motor sports because we have reserved for them about a 100 acres and I think this is the opportune time because the land has been lying idle all through without a direction.
“We have informed KMSF on how they should make a presentation to the technical committee which will in turn present it to the SSMB Board for consideration. By December, we ought to have finalized everything for the Board to approve,” SSMB Board Member Onesmus Kimani said.
Macharia noted: “It’s going to be a turn around for motor sports in Kenya as we are going to get some funding from the FIA (World Motor Sports Governing Body) and get local investors to invest on the ground which is going to be a centre of excellence in motor sports.”
Surinder, who is also the FIA Vice-president, said the global governing body has a project already under its Institute for Safety and Development.
He said the Kasarani project is blessing to motor sports and that KMSF will not hesitate to apply for FIA funding on the basis that the Federation will have a joint title deed with the SSMB.
“They have the money that the FIA have obtained from the fines that we charged in Formula One and that money has been invested and the interest accumulated is been dedicated to the Clubs for development.
“For infrastructure development, which is similar to this project here at Kasarani, the FIA will give money towards technical support of drafting the plans and getting the engineers to come and look at the land and see what is involved in building a track. They won’t give you money to build the track; the reason being that it’s too expensive,” said Surinder.
SSMB were represented by its Chief Executive Benjamin Sogomo and Board Member Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri.
