This week, Wadi Degla will open their first facility in Kenya, on 10 acres at Runda, about 20 minutes away from Nairobi, and just off the Northern bypass. The facility is busy now with visitors of media and members signing up inside the offices, while outside,  crews of workers are laying the artificial soccer pitch, the multi purpose fields, walking and running tracks, several swimming pools, installing gym equipment and completing several restaurants.

Wadi Degla, Runda, Nairobi

Wadi Degla started in Egypt in 2002, and opened their first facility in 2003 that combines sports, social and leisure aspects. They now have 5 clubs in Egypt with over 600,000 members (from about 130,000 families)

They have also been in Kenya since 2005 in the telecom sector. After Runda, Wadi Degla will have two clubs at Migaa (off Thika Road), one at Karen (at the former Mamba Village) and one on Mombasa Road.

The Runda one will have the largest gym in East Africa which has enough Cybex weights and machines for 200 people to use at a time without waiting or sharing. There will be similar facilities at the other clubs, but in addition, at Migaa will have an 18 hole golf course and an Olympic-size (50 metre) swimming pool, while at Karen there will be facilities to accommodate horses.

Their goal is to have several Wadi Degla club facilities in Nairobi within a half hour of their members. Eventually they plan to be in other towns, and countries (Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda).  A member of the club gets to use any of the clubs anywhere in the world – so e..g any member visiting or caught in traffic, can stop and exercise, use a gym or get a massage at the nearest Wadi Degla club.

The Runda club is part of Kshs 2 billion investment and members who visit and sign up ahead of the official opening can get a discount or arrange payment plans.