By Michael Chepkwony
The Kipchoge Keino Stadium will now be relocated to Nandi Agricultural Showground for a proposed expansion.
The Kapsabet Municipal Council and Nandi County Council agreed to move the 6-acre stadium, as it does not meet standard acreage requirement.
Kapsabet mayor, Michael Rono said they had earlier proposed to expand the stadium but residents of Swahili village opposed the idea.
Speaking to The Standard in his office in Kapsabet on Wednesday, Rono said that they were waiting for County Commissioner Ms Matilda Sakwa to approve the relocation plan. Nandi Council Clerk, Henry Loyolmoi and Rono said the proposed new site was “ideal”. Loyolmoi explained the relocation will not interfere with agricultural shows because there was adequate space and the stadium could double up as exhibition area.
Rono also said that if the relocation is approved, the abandoned site will also be developed.
“The current stadium is less than fifty meters away from Central Business District and it would be developed to meet the town’s growing demands,” he said.
major boost
Loyolmoi said construction of the stadium would be a major boost to Nandi County where several international and upcoming athletes conduct their training.
“We have concern for development of this region and that’s why we have joined hands with the municipal in making positive changes,” he said.
The stadium has been in limelight for its perimeter wall, built in 1958 by the colonial government, collapsed and has not been repaired to date. Rono said that once the approval has been made, the title deed will be handed over to International Olympics Committee to develop and manage it. Attempts by The Standard to reach Ms Sakwa were futile as she has not settled at her new office in Nandi Central District headquarters.
