His name was Sir Derek Quicke Erskine. He was a British settler in Kenya. He played a key role in popularising Athletics in Kenya and co-founded the Athletics Kenya.Erskine was invited to Kenya by a businessman with connections to Lord Delamere, and he soon set up a successful grocer business.When he founded Athletics Kenya, he contributed significant funds to the Association, including donating the land on which the Nyayo National Stadium is now built.
The Nyayo National Stadium is the second biggest sporting arena in Kenya with a capacity of slightly over 35,000.It is located a walking distance from Nairobi’s Central Business District Centre ( CBD), along Mombasa Road.The multipurpose facility which was built in 1983 during the rule of the late President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi , has a swimming pool, a standard-size football pitch, an indoor gymnasium and Handball, Basketball and Volleyball courts.
It has hosted numerous events, including national holidays such as Jamhuri Day and numerous sporting competitions.Erskine also served as a Member of the Kenyan Legislative Council between for some years .Politically he was a staunch advocate of racial harmony in Kenya. In 1952, he was removed from a session of the Legislative Council due to his outspoken views demanding racial equality within Kenya.He was sympathetic to Jomo Kenyatta's struggle against discrimination, and offered his house to Kenyatta when he was in detention and the government said there was no place he could live.
He was knighted in 1964 for political and public services in Kenya on the recommendation of Kenyatta.Erskine died in Nairobi in 1977.
Source: https://www.teamkenya.co.ke/news/5218-derek-erskine-foreigner-who-donated-nyayo-national-stadium-land
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