After several years of watching cricket on TV, they were happy that they would get a chance to watch an international cricket match on home soil.
Once respected for its exploits in cricket, many felt that it was time for Kenya to reclaim its rightful place in the cricketing world.
On Friday last week, Kenya took on Hong Kong in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Championships (WCLC) at Nairobi Gymkhana.
At stake for Kenya in the WCLC is a slot in the qualifiers for 2019 World Cup. Even though the main event might seem light years away, the qualifiers will be held in 2018, in Bangladesh.
Kenya lost its One Day International (ODI) status and now has to battle it out with hitherto low-ranked teams to make it to the main event, via qualifiers.
The homeboys were impressive in Match One winning by three wickets to bag two crucial points last Friday.
Wicket-keeper Irfan Karim, son of former skipper Asif Karim, was among the day’s top performers hitting half century to spur Kenya to victory.
Skipper Rakep Patel also put up a notable show by taking five wickets. Nelson Odhiambo and Nehemiah Odhiambo gave a good account of themselves with the ball to see Kenya through in a game that was interrupted by rain several times leading to a revision of the overs and the target.
The desire to see Kenya beat Hong Kong for the second time in two days was the only inspiration for local fans who braved the wet weather conditions and trooped to Nairobi Gymkhana.
But they left a disappointed lot after Kenya went down by 39 runs in the rain-delayed and rain-interrupted match.
Rain aside, Kenya’s batting collapse was dramatic, and poor batting was the team’s undoing as some of the wickets fell cheaply, and without adding a run to the scoreboard.
The loss has reduced Kenya’s chances of making it to the qualifiers, and subsequently the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.
Kenya now has to win their remaining three matches against Nepal, Netherlands and Scotland to secure revive their hopes of returning to the global showpiece.
Former player Maurice Odumbe says the national team has potential but lacks guidance from senior players.
“We have talent but they lack the guidance that comes with experience from senior players. I watched the game and kept asking myself if they were reading the opponents’ game,” Odumbe, a former skipper says.
“Rakep is a very good player but it pained me to watch his runs go to waste because he was so burdened with the skipper’s duties that he could not play well.”
Odumbe added that while batting is an individual responsibility, most players lacked commitment to fight for the team and country.
“I never saw an effort from our batsmen who tried to challenge the opposition bowlers, they played the opponent’s game and gifted them victory without a fight,” Odumbe says, adding that Cricket Kenya (CK) should not hesitate to seek assistance from former players who can add value to the team.
“There is also need for Kenya to train more spinners to strengthen the team,” he says. “The only reliable spinners are Rakep and Collins Obuya and we need more for Kenya to manage to compete internationally.”
He blames the current situation to poor transition. “We are on the backfoot and it will take the efforts of CK, former national team players and the current players to revive Kenyan cricket.”
Kenya still has three opponents to face in the WCLC and their chances all depend on how they perform in the remaining encounters.
Thomas Odoyo, the current coach who was Odumbe’s team mate is optimistic his charges can still make it to the qualifiers. “We have six matches we are aiming to win against Netherlands at home and get some points from the away ties against Nepal and Scotland.”
