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Complete stadium works

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By  Editorial

The sorry state of Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri County despite millions going into the renovation of the iconic arena that has been closed down for over five years now is unacceptable.

Nyeri is the heart of the Central region that has produced some of Kenya’s renowned sportsmen and women especially in athletics. These include the late Samuel Wanjiru, who is the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon title, Douglas Wakiihuri, the first Kenyan to win a world marathon title, two-time world marathon champion Catherine “The Great” Ndereba and 1988 Olympic 5,000m champion John Ngugi, just to mention but a few.

In 2017, former President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the ground-breaking to start the upgrade of the arena and directed the contractor to complete the work within 100 days.

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Eight years later, the project that has gobbled over Sh500 million is yet far from being completed and no proper football or athletics event has been held at the venue.

President William Ruto has since relaunched the renovation of the stadium, with the government putting pressure on the contractor to complete the project within nine months at a cost of Sh850 million.

While there is light at the end of the tunnel with the new development, the government must ensure those contracted are paid on time to avoid the projects stalling.

The contractors must adhere to laid down international standards in view of avoiding scenarios like when the Ulinzi Sports Complex track had to be adjusted to meet World Athletics standards so as to host the Kip Keino Classic on May 31.

Ruring’u is a replica of the country’s sorry state of venues that are stalled despite millions being pumped into their renovation. Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu are some of the venues that have gobbled millions but are yet to be completed.