Officials feud over completion of Kinoru stadium as PS announces take over

Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi (right) address the media, on July 22,2017 at Kenya Methodist University (KEMU), where he met Mt Kenya East teachers and asked them to mobilize voters to re-elect President Uhuru Kenyatta.. Photo Peter Muthomi

A conflict is brewing between the county and the national governments over the construction of Kinoru Stadium.

The stadium will host the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in January.

Sports, Culture and Arts Permanent Secretary Kirimi Kaberia announced the Government’s plan to take over the construction, which is in its final stages, in readiness for the soccer fiesta.

Flanked by Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, Mr Kaberia said the final works to be undertaken by the Government would include laying a new international standard pitch.

But County Sports Executive Joy Muriungi and Infrastracture’s Newton Itobi vowed that they would not allow the Government to take over the project that was started by the the county. They said the county had already built the stadium to international standards.

Kaberia claimed that the devolved unit needs help to complete the stadium. “The stadium has been built (by the county) to a certain extent. We are going to change the turf to comply with Confederation of African Football requirements. We will also complete the VVIP section, which will include offices and support and control systems,” he said.

Kaberia added that the relevant agencies were working hard to meet the August 20 deadline set by the CHAN organisers.

Echoing Governor Peter Munya’s stand, Ms Muriungi and Mr Itobi said they would not allow the project to be ‘hijacked’ by the national government.

Mr Munya had termed the 20,000-seater stadium a county project and asked the national government to give funds to complete it.

Kaberia said the funds would be channelled through the laid down procedures. “It is not my call as the PS (to say who will be in charge of funds). It will be done according to the law. The law will apply,” he said.

Kaimenyi said the national government also plans to construct a sports academy at the stadium to benefit the youth.

“Sports is a major employer capable of earning good money for the youth,” he said.

Muriungi and Itobi said the government had yet to communicate to the county what work it wants to do on the stadium.

Itobi said CHAN wanted a "certain type of pitch that does not exist even at Kasarani".