In preparations for hosting the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN), Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County will be closed for four months to allow for renovation and upgrading.
With the closure, all the matches have been moved to Mumias Sports Complex and the Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, who visited the facility today said that the stadium to assess areas that require modification and the time frame required.
The stadium, which previously hosted Cecafa Under-18 games is also expected to co-host Afcon in 2027 as the upgrading process continues.
“Bukhungu is a famous ground synonymous with the history of football, home to the greatest footballers and our collaboration is about completing it to international status,” Namwamba said.
The national and county governments will collaborate in financing the completion of the stadium whose first phase cost Sh475 million.
Governor Barasa said the stadium’s upgrade is in its second phase and the county has already pumped in Sh400 million this financial year. The third phase will cost Sh1.4 billion.
“Officials from the Ministry of Sports have come with technical teams to inspect this stadium to see areas in which the national government can partner with us to make the facility ready for hosting CHAN and Afcon,” Barasa said.
“Kakamega has the great potential to host significant games and the county has proven it has what it takes to be good hosts for big tournaments as we have seen before,” he said.