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Stitching: Details of high-tech method used to fix grass at Raila Odinga Stadium
09th September, 2026 08:07 AM
Preparations at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Nairobi have reached a major milestone with the installation of a state-of-the-art hybrid pitch.
The technological upgrade is a key requirement by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ensure the facility meets continental standards ahead of the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Expected to be fully ready by 2027, the stadium is adopting advanced pitch-stitching technology, which integrates synthetic microfibres with natural grass. The complex procedure is carried out by a massive, high-grade hybrid machine equipped with laser-guided needles that weave artificial fibers directly into the natural turf.
Hybrid technology
Operating along the entire length of the pitch, the two-deck machine features 86 stitching units working simultaneously alongside a moisturised inlet system to maintain optimal surface conditions during installation.
Before stitching begins, the ground is pre-perforated using a specialised machine.
This preparatory step protects the equipment, preventing damage to the high-value needles as they penetrate the soil. Once the process is complete, the synthetic fibres blend seamlessly into the turf, giving the pitch a slightly darker, richer appearance than standard grass.
Over time, the natural roots intertwine with the synthetic fibers, creating a stable, anchor-like root system that keeps the playing surface firmly bound. The synthetic grass combines with the Monaco-variety Bermuda grass and provides reinforcement beneath and through the turf for a durable surface.
Natural feel and advantages
Max Hope, the project coordinator, highlighted the pitch’s natural feel, noting that the synthetic element accounts for only 5 per cent of the surface area.
“We are a global company working across the world, and this is the first pitch we are doing in Kenya,” Hope explained. “Once completed, players will feel as though they are playing on 100 per cent natural grass,” he told a local TV station on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
While this marks the first hybrid pitch of its kind in Kenya, the technology is widely used across major international venues, including Fenerbahçe’s stadium in Turkey and Barcelona’s Camp Nou.
Similar hybrid systems were also installed across multiple host venues for the FIFA World Cup in North America, including the final venue in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
