Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has renewed efforts to build 64 stadium in Eldoret to foster sports in the county, well known for producing world-leading athletes and a host football teams.
The facility, which is the training ground has been left on its own and turned into a hawking and grazing field, a playground for street urchins.
With broken perimeter wall unleveled pitch and unmarked track, Mandago has assured that within a minimum of two years, the facility will be complete to host some matches.
This comes at the time when the county, for the second time will be hosting Olympic Games trials for the second time in a row.
“We as a county we already allocated resources to build 64 stadium. We have completed the design the document is ready we are just waiting for no objection from World Bank then we can advertise the tendering process,” said Mandago.
The stadium used to host GFE 105 among other teams in the region, but following its depletion, the facility has remained as a training ground for upcoming runners.
“We want to promise residents that within the next two years we shall have completed building 64 stadium,” promised Mandago.
On Kippchoge stadium, which has been under renovation since 2012, Mandago said they have been in discussion with the ministry of sports, through the Cabinet Secretary pledged to make sure that the stadium is will be completed.
However, the governor turned the heat on contractors who fail to finish their job on time.
He said There was a contractual problem between the contractor and ministry of sports because of delayed payments and also works that were not agreed upon but now I think that has been sorted from the commitment from the ministry of sports and we believe this will be completed.
“But we also want to tell our local contractors because Sometimes people blame the government when the contracts are given to Chinese or foreign companies but you understand why all those stadia we are talking about we were being constructed by local companies but look at what has happened excuse here excuse there even when you look at roads that were given to our local contractors the majority of them are struggling. We lack seriousness and commitment in executing contracts and I want to tell our local contractors in this country if you don’t step up if you don’t become serious in the execution of works then we shall have no option giving out contracts worthy 15million to foreigners,” explained the governor.