Nothing to show for Sh264m spent on Kipchoge Keino, Kamarin stadia
After spending a total of Sh264 million on the historic Kipchoge Keino and Kamarin Stadia, a sport check by People Daily yesterday on the work done on the two facilities was a pale shadow of what is on paper.
On October 22, the Parliamentary Committee on Sports who inquired about the state of nine local stadia, received a brief that Kipchoge Keino which was closed in 2017 for renovations was at the moment 60 per cent complete with Sh206 million having been spent on works at the facility, while Kamarin was said to be 30 percent complete, having spent Sh58 million on its upgrade so far.
But a visit on the two facilities yesterday proved otherwise. Kipchoge Keino which hosted the 2016 Olympic trials before its renovations were commissioned, still has the tartan track intact, but the pitch is in appalling condition with tall grass and without goal posts. The surface was supposed to be dug and fresh work done on it to meet Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) standards for it to be able to host international matches.
Constructor Shiv Construction Limited who was to build phase one of the stadium at a cost of Sh325 million, that included the construction of a VIP pavilion, conference rooms, terraces, anti-doping rooms and a parking lot that would accommodate a minimum of 400 cars, has only erected a perimeter fence made of iron sheet, halfway built one wing of the terraces before he took off in protest more than a year ago citing lack of payment.
The other wing of the stadium, where other terraces were to be built, only has pillars erected. However, athletes continue to use the tartan track to train everyday as it has not been tampered with.
In Kamarin, Iten, athletes have been forced to shift their training base to Kiptigo forest and Tambach Teachers Training College after the contractor abandoned work at the facility after only digging trenches. The terrace has also been abandoned half way despite the fact that Sh58 million has gone into the work.
Football teams in the region, Women Premier League side Eldoret Falcons and National Super League side GFE 105 are also equally in limbo just like the athletes due to the stalled facilities.
