The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) has formally taken over construction of the Olenguruone Stadium in Nakuru County, thirteen years after the project stalled.
Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones said that after a comprehensive site inspection, the KDF would now move forward with the necessary processes to continue with construction of the facility.
He voiced the County government’s support for the intervention, saying that completing the stadium would inspire hope and ignite passion among the surrounding communities especially the youth eager to engage in sports and talent development.
Construction of the stadium situated in Kuresoi South Sub-County started in 2012 after a contractor was awarded Sh73 million out of the total contract sum of Sh290,643,600 as per the contract agreement.
Speaking when he hosted a KDF team led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Githehu for a reconnaissance visit ahead of resumption of the works, the Deputy Governor hailed President Ruto’s intervention for marshalling the military’s skills to ensure the project is completed.
He explained that the stadium, located in Amalo Ward, Kuresoi South constituency, had been officially handed over to the military for redesign and completion following Governor Susan Kihika’s appeal to the President.
“Construction work will resume under a new design, which will see the stadium’s capacity increase,” stated the Deputy Governor.
Kones said the County government was committed to ensuring that the facility is done adding that a contractor who would do the work together with Kenya Defence Forces would be identified soon to ensure that work kicks off the soonest.
He explained that the County Government had uninitiated projects to build and upgrade sports facilities in 11 Sub-Counties with a key project targeting the renovation of the run-down Afraha stadium.
The Deputy Governor went on to say that the upgrade of the sporting facilities had been designed to increase the residents’ access to modern sporting facilities required for quality sports talent development and exposure.
The facilities, he added, were being designed to provide an international sports arena for major national and international events which would attract revenue and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for Nakuru County residents.
“We as government have a responsibility to create every opportunity for youth to nurture and exploit their full potential,” Kones said.
While noting that the County administration had charted out development and expansion of sporting facilities to tap talent among the youth, Kones at the same time said the County administration had initiated a working relationship with the National Land Commission (NLC) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to help in repossessing all grabbed public amenities that had been set aside for the same.
He added that the county was fast-tracking the construction of the sporting facilities in all the 11 sub counties and more money would be allocated through supplementary budgets and the subsequent financial estimates.
Good infrastructure would enable youth to nurture and showcase their sporting potential through tournaments, and this would keep youths from bad behaviour, added Kones.
Once complete, the facilities will host football, swimming, volleyball, boxing, karate, basketball, tennis and rugby tournaments as well as athletics competitions, he said.
With the completion of the multi-million sporting infrastructure projects, Nakuru County government hopes to promote sports in the region and to also improve its revenue collection through sports tourism.
By Esther Mwangi
