Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has challenged the Ministry of Sports to fast-track the completion of Eldoret's Kipchoge Keino Stadium.
The National government had started modernization and expansion works of the stadium named after Kenya's athletics ace Kipchoge Keino. However, the construction works on the iconic facility have stalled since Kenya lost the bid to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) last year January.
Speaking during the launch of 2019 Lotto National Cross Country Trials in Eldoret town on Thursday, Governor Mandago asked the ministry to see to it that the stadium is completed.
"The Ministry of Sports should work to ensure works resume and the stadium is completed," said Mandago in an event attended by Athletics Kenya's top brass.
"We need this stadium complete because we need to continue hosting many other events. We shall also be bidding for bigger events,” he added.
Eldoret, the nerve of athletics, will be hosting the National Cross Country trials on February 23; the first venue outside Nairobi to stage the event that has been touted as a mini-world event, a sneak preview of the showpiece that will be in the Danish province of Aarhus.
"Our stadium is not like any other. We are a seedbed of athletics and as a region that has brought Kenya much respect, our athletes need facilities," Mandago insisted.
The trials will be used to select Kenya's team that will fly the country's flag in the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark.
During the launch, Lotto Foundation, the main event sponsor presented a cheque of Sh10 million.
The trials will be staged at the Eldoret Sports Club.
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