My Town Rocks: Nakuru, Kenya

Nakuru is the capital of Kenya’s Rift Valley Province and is the fourth biggest city in all of Kenya. With over 300,000 inhabitants, it’s also one of the most populated urban centers in the country. But this has nothing to do with why my town rocks.

Soccer, known strictly as “football” in this part of the world, is by far the most popular sport in Kenya and that doesn’t look like it will ever change.

Basketball, Rugby, and even Formula 1 all attract some attention but soccer is the only sport in this country which causes people to skip work or school to go crowd around a small TV in a local bar to watch a game.

The English Premier League has become so popular in Kenya in the past decade, that you could ask any Kenyan who their favorite team is and they will almost certainly have an answer for you. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are popular teams where I live, but it’s Arsenal who have the largest fan base in Nakuru, as well as in all of Kenya.

When Manchester United and Arsenal play each other the entire town seems to come to a halt. The hype surrounding these types of games is immense. Every bar or hotel in Nakuru that has a satellite dish (there’s actually quite a lot) is usually swarming with people before the game even kicks off. The atmosphere in these places is unbelievable.

Sometimes I even pass up the chance to watch the game in the comfort of my home to be involved in such an edgy and animated environment. The result of these matches can even go as far as setting the mood of the town for the following week. An Arsenal win, no matter who the opponent, usually sets the town into ecstasy, but a loss can just as easily shatter the spirits of the countless supporters.

As an avid follower of the English Premier League, I have absolutely loved being a part of such a great town. I say this because in two weeks I will no longer be living in Nakuru, the most awesome town I know of.

And because Kenyan sports teams, especially the ones from Nakuru, have struggled so much in the past, the English Premier League gives us something to be proud of. Apart from their long distance runners, Kenyans don’t exactly have too much to brag about when it comes to sports.

That’s why Kenyans, particularly residents of Nakuru, are so proud of the soccer teams they support. Everyone takes it seriously, but at the same time, no one is overly offended by trash talk. So if you ever come to Nakuru, which I highly doubt you will, wear a jersey from any team in the Premier League and you will be amazed at the amount of comments you will receive.

But let me just warn you, they won’t all be good.

Anyways, that’s why I think my town rocks. Thanks for reading.