Construction of modern stadiums will begin next year, Wario assures
PHOTO | COURTESY Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos as it looked on November 23 following a month-long frantic renovation exercise in time to host several matches of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup that was held in Kenya last year. The Government is set to begin construction of five modern stadiums situated in different counties next year.
What you need to know:
- Government will seek funds from external sources for the planned projects
- Wario also confirmed at the same function that the Government has began paying the salary of national football team coach Adel Amrouche while indicating that his ministry has already met with stakeholders to draw up plans that will stem the increasing cases of hooliganism in football.
The Government intends to start the delayed construction of five state-of-the-art stadiums in the country next year.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario confirmed this Thursday while answering questions from journalists at Harambee House during the State of the Nation briefing.
“The initial phase (of improving infrastructure) is ongoing as you can witness with the renovations of the Mombasa, Kisumu and Kipchoge Keino stadiums,” Wario noted.
The Cabinet Secretary added: “The next phase now is to begin the paperwork to construct new facilities, a process that is currently under way. We are happy some counties have already donated land for this purpose.
But this initiative is very expensive and will have to be bankrolled with money from external sources. Constructing five, 50,000-seater stadiums is not a joke.”
The Jubilee administration’s election manifesto promised Kenyans five brand new stadiums in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Garrissa and Eldoret.
ASSURED ON BIDS
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration also assured Kenyans that the country will bid to host major sporting events including the 2019 African Cup of Nations and 2019 World Athletics Championships.
The Kenya government wrote a commitment letter to Confederation of African Football to host the 2019 football extravaganza.
However, the country was not included in the shortlist of bid nations for the tournament by Caf.
Kenya is now set to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championships (Chan) after receiving the green light from the continental body.
Wario also confirmed at the same function that the Government has began paying the salary of national football team coach Adel Amrouche while indicating that his ministry has already met with stakeholders to draw up plans that will stem the increasing cases of hooliganism in football.
