The entrance to Sh650m Kirigiti International Stadium in Kiambu town.Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has confirmed that Kirigiti International Stadium will be ready to host the African Nations Championships
(CHAN) competitions set for August this year.
Mvurya, who visited the stadium, said works in the stadium
will resume next week and that the facility is expected to be complete within
45 days to enable it to host trainings for players in preparations for the
competitions.
Mvurya, who was accompanied by Sports Principal Secretary Peter
Tum and Governor Kimani Wamatangi, said that the sporting facility has been
identified as one of the training grounds of continental competitions.
"Most of the key sections have been done very well, like
the changing rooms, VVIP and VIP sections, canopies, and terraces," he
said.
He said the government is concerned that the stadium has taken too long without operationalization and that it was prudent to meet the leadership of Kiambu to address the issues hampering its completion.
Sports PS Peter Tum, CS Salim Mvurya and Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi during an inspection visit of Kirigiti International Stadium
“We have agreed that both Sports Kenya and the county
government will gain access to the stadium and therefore need to ensure it
meets FIFA and Confederation of African Football standards," he said.
Next week, the CS said a team will embark on landscaping and
grass work together with the contractor to make sure the right quality of grass
is planted and well irrigated. Further, access roads to the stadium will be well
done.
The CS, however, said that the government is looking for a
sustainable way of managing stadiums in the country as a way of supporting
sports activities.
Wamatangi, on his part, said the stadium, whose construction started in 2020, stalled in 2022, and it will be of great benefit to the county once completed.
The 16,000-seater Kirigiti International Stadium in Kiambu town."This is an asset that the people of Kiambu will
greatly benefit from. It is a huge injection in the economic well-being of
residents, as traders will make a killing every time there are
activities in the stadium," he said.
The stadium is considered a vital national monument as it is
the venue where founding president Jomo Kenyatta addressed his last rally
before going to detention.
The 16,000-seater facility will have a VIP pavilion, VIP
holding rooms, two presidential holding rooms, two kitchens, four sets of
washrooms, changing rooms fitted with security features and stores.
The stadium will also have a volleyball and basketball pitch that will be completed in phase two of the project and will be instrumental in national and international tournaments due to its proximity to Nairobi.
