Two governors, Jackson Mandago and his Nandi County counterpart Stephen Sang have told off the government for staggering steps towards the renovation of the Kipchoge Keino Stadium.
Mandango pointed fingers at the Ministry of Sports under CS Amina Mohammed for taking up a task which they have not been committed to finishing on time.
He said that he cannot comprehend why the central government took up the task yet there is an able county public works department.
“Even if the central government is funding it, they can give us the responsibility of supervising the project. You can’t build a stadium in Eldoret from Nairobi,” said Governor Mandago.
“We have wasted a lot of time waiting for everything from Nairobi. Let them engage the contractors but have us to oversee the work,” explained Mandago as quoted by Daily Nation.
While speaking in Kenya Athletes’ Conference at Sirikwa Hotel, Eldoret, he said that the renovation can be completed within six months if they partner with the central government.
Mandago said that the county government had commenced the building of a modern track for trials at 64 stadia and it will be completed within 18 months.
Governor Sang said that it was shameful that we always participate well in international athletics competition but we have poor facilities.
“Athletics is one of the key resources this country has but we simply have no facilities for them. It’s a shame as a country,” said Sang.
He further asked the head of state to intercede on this crucial matter.
“I would like to ask the president to personally intervene in the completion of the three stadiums which are crucial for athletes’ preparations. The athletes are the brand ambassadors of this country and we need to honour them by providing good environment in terms of better facilities,” said Sang.
Contractors left the construction of Kamariny in Iten and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret due to lack of payments.