The speedy construction of Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret has excited Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago hoping that the planned Olympic Games will be staged at the facility.
Athletics Kenya (AK) had named the facility to host the national track and field trials to select a team that will represent the country at the 2020 Olympic Games to be staged in the Japanese capital Tokyo in July and August.
Following the construction of the stadium by the national government through the ministry of sports, Mandago is optimistic that the facility will be ready for the trials.
“Am confident that the construction of Kipchoge Keino Stadium will be complete within the time frame offered by the ministry of sports,” said Mandago in Eldoret.
On 26th March 2021, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed, on her fact finding gave another ultimatum of four months for the facility to be complete, meaning the facility has to be complete in May but that may remain a dream despite picking other contractors to handle different departments to hasten the completion.
This was the second dateline issued by Amina that was never met by the contractor for the facility that started way back in 2007 when former president Mwai Kibaki launched the construction.
“We have a new dateline and we have told contractors that if they can’t manage time, they should release it to others because this country is not short of contractors. If they don’t meet the dateline, they need to tell us we change,” said Amina during the visit.
She threatened to change the contractor as athletes train ahead of the Olympic Games.
“We are hoping that the facility can be used in the last two to three months before the Olympic Games. It is time we finish this project. The contractor led us down in our last meeting but now we know it shall be well. I hope this time the contractor will not let us down,” she assured.
But Mandago praised the speedy construction that takes place day and night to keep the pace with the timelines laid down by Amina.
“As the governor of this county, I have hope that the planned trials will be held at the facility now that we have a tremendous improvement in the performance of the contractors. As a county, we are happy with the progress,” said Mandago.
With two months left for the trials, the facility to host the trails, Mandago said that county officials and the residents have crossed fingers to see the facility will be complete before the said dates.
“As a county we are preparing for the event despite the biting coronavirus pandemic globally that has slowed down the sporting progress in the world but that has not hindered the construction,” said Mandago.