A series of consultations between the County government of Murang’a, National land commission, residents of Maragua and land owners on the proposed multimillion Gakoigo stadium site have resolved to relocate the project to Samar within the same division-Maragua
This was unanimously agreed during a public participation held yesterday, at Maragua Assistant County Commissioners Hall, a few metres from the newly proposed site.
The ground at Gakoigo stadium was found to be insufficient to accommodate a 10,000-seater capacity stadium in line with international standards.
Maragua Member of Parliament Mary Wamaua revealed that discussions with the county government on imminent relocation and subsequent relocation of more than 25 families that would be affected in Gakoigo faced hurdles from constrained finances to the family’s resistance to relocate.
She noted that the contractor had been on site for three weeks and the project was already lagging behind.
“The contractor was ready to kick off the construction of the Sh800 stadium but it emerged that adhering to the standard north- south stadium orientation would impact families and this threw us off pitch prompting a series of deliberations with all the stakeholders involved” she said
In collaboration with the county government, a sizable land was identified at Samar area and this is the new site for the Gakoigo Stadium.
The former has 3 acres adequate for a stadium while the latter would have seen families in the 7.2 acres of already developed land relocated.
The county government of Murang’a under the leadership of Dr Irungu Kangata which had been tasked with overseeing the imminent relocation and compensation of the families at Gakoigo proposed providing alternative land in a land that would minimize disturbances by reducing costs related to relocation and compensation challenges.
“The provided land at samar was thus found ideal for the stadium, notably the stadium will now be new key infrastructure like the police station, the hospital and also new residential areas which will further contribute to the growth and development of maragua, as compared to Gakoigo which is a bit interior” said Wamaua
However, noted the MP, the stadium will retain the name Gakoigo despite the change of location.
The current Gakoigo stadium site will also benefit from the project through a CSR despite it being relocated.
“We will ensure the field which is in a dilapidated state gets rehabilitated to revive some of its lost glory” she said
Established in the 1960s Gakoigo ground was a venue for agricultural trade fairs, public rallies, and sports activities and featured a watchtower, a spectator terrace, and permanent exhibition stands.
Kenya News Agency spoke to some of the families at Gakoigo ground who expressed satisfaction at the decision, relieved that they would not be moved supporting the move to relocate the stadium to samar.
Sammy Kibe, said that while they yearned for development in their area, the proposal to relocate them had caused immense anxiety as they have over year developed their land, some had even buried their relatives in that very land.
“I bought my parcel of land years ago when I had strength and agility as a young man, I have even built rentals tat host students from Maragua technical training institute, moving would completely disorient me in my old age”
“We are not against development so having stadium built in Samar is equally beneficial to our division and we welcome and support this decision fully”
Others like Joel Mwangi had raised concern at how long it would take to compensate them and if the amount they would receive would be sufficient to help them build lives easily in a new location.
“I have planted avocado trees and bananas in my land, which has taken me many years to develop and moving to a new location to start afresh is unfathomable”
He, like Kibe and 9 other land owners representing more than 25 families welcome the decision to build the stadium at Samar.
Meanwhile, Murang’a south DCC Bernard Odino emphasized that owing to the sensitivity of land issues, it is paramount to ensure that land owners had the right documents like tittle deeds.
“Throughout this process it has emerged that some parcels of land in that Gakoigo area are not titled, I urge you to initiate succession processes so as to become lawful owners
“You have a right to own property in Kenya and the government cannot fore c you to surrender your property, but even if compensation were to take place here only people who are legitimate owners would be compensated” he said.
The 10,000-seater stadium will include a standard football pitch, an eight-lane tartan athletics track, changing rooms, VIP sections and auxiliary courts for basketball, volleyball, handball and netball.
The construction on the new site is set to begin soon with groundbreaking scheduled for March 2026.
by Florence Kinyua
