By JOSEPH MASHA

The Kilifi county government has great plans to construct a modern sports stadium to attain international standards.

Salma Muhidhin, the Executive Committee Member in charge of Education, Youth and Social Services, said the Kilifi government will allocate money to start the project in the next financial year.

Muhidhin said they are planning to construct and equip the Kilifi sports ground commonly known as Bukungu Stadium to be the county sports stadium.

“For this financial year ending in June, my docket had not been allocated enough funds for sports activities. However, in the 2014/15 financial year, a lot of money will be spared for this sector,” said Muhidhin.

She said at the moment, the county government was planning to rehabilitate Karisa Maitha grounds at a cost of Sh10 million.

Muhidhin said the funds would be sourced from the Rapid Results Initiative Programme for this financial year, when Sh1 billion has been budgeted.

County Secretary Owen Baya confirmed that the county government has serious plans to improve sports facilities in the county including the construction of Bukungu Stadium.

Baya said through consultation with members of the public in Kilifi County, the county government plans to develop the current Karisa Maitha Stadium into a standardised recreation centre.

He said the county government could not develop the facility to a modern stadium as it was located in the centre of the county headquarters.

Baya said the Kilifi county government, in collaboration with Pwani University, has plans to put up a sports academy at the campus. Pwani University authorities have the drawings for the academy and are currently trying to market the idea and attract investors to support it.

He said the county government was planning to make Kilifi a sports friendly city, with facilities equivalent to international standards.

Baya said through the sports city, the county could attract tourists and international sports competition to the area and improve the economy.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi confirmed that his government had entered into a partnership with Pwani University to start the sports academy project within the campus grounds.

He said the university has enough land for such a project and his government, with the support of the university management, is looking for potential investors who can support the construction of the academy.