Homa Bay county’s long-awaited stadium becomes a reality
The much-awaited Homa Bay County’s ultra-modern stadium was finally unveiled and opened to the public on Friday and named Raila Odinga Homa Bay Stadium after nine years of waiting.
The stadium - which was commissioned back in 2014 and a ground-breaking ceremony took place presided over by the then Governor Cyprian Awiti - had stalled due to county government bureaucracies said current Governor Gladys Wanga.
“Sports is one of my main agendas as I try to create much-needed employment among our youth and also develop different sporting talents within the County. However, it is important to note that this cannot be achieved when we indulge in politics as opposed to development projects like this one,” said Wanga.
The 10,000-capacity stadium cost the County Sh369 million and was opened on the eve of the Luo Cultural weekend dubbed ‘Piny Luo 2023’ with Luo political leaders led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga attending the event.
“I am honoured today to be here and open this massive project that is named after me. We have to develop talent not only in Homa Bay County but also the Luo Nyanza region at large as we develop talents that will benefit Kenya on the global stage winning medals and making us proud,” said Odinga who applauded Governor Wanga’s efforts towards sports. -Shadrack Andenga
This year, on March 26, Wanga signed a memorandum of understanding with the Austrian Ambassad.
or to Kenya Christian Fellner and Acakoro Football Academy General Manager Luka Mott to build a Sh456 million football academy on an already acquired 20-acre piece of land in Kome village in Kanyamwa Kosewe Ward, Ndiwa Sub County.
The County also is pushing for other sports other than the already popular football with five netball clubs already being active and participating in different tournaments across the country.
Another sport that is quickly taking shape within the County is boxing with two clubs already registered from Oyugis town and some athletes that have participated in the just concluded boxing national trials at Charter Hall in Nairobi last weekend.
Wanga’s dream now is to make Homa Bay County a hub of sporting talents with her main role being to provide the necessary infrastructure for the potentials to thrive.
