Neglected incomplete stadium turns into a drinking den

Six years ago the County Government of Baringo embarked on a mission to establish a stadium to enhance the development of young people on matters sports.

Several projects including the construction of a stadium in Kabarnet were initiated and funds allocated. The project within Kabarnet centre, however, is now turning out to be an eyesore.

Though within the town and few metres from the County offices, the site of the neglected project with incomplete structures is now a grazing field, a dumping site and a drinking den.

A visit to the stadium site portrays a sorry state as gullies have developed on the field and the gate missing with a falling perimeter wall.

Locals living around the stadium are agitated and calls upon the security agencies to come to their aid.

They are blaming the county government for neglecting the facility which now accommodates drunkards and a grazing field.

Mary Cherutich a local living within the area said that each time she goes to work at around 8 am she meet drunkards some of whom she suspects spent cold night in the field.

She noted that when she relocated to the place at first she met hostile drunkards who bullied her. Cherutich lamented that it is unfortunate that the county official elected tends to blame the last regime instead of working on the stalled project.

"Not once but always, I'm forced sometimes to take the long route because of the fear of being harassed by drunkards," she added.

Vincent Chepmworem a resident noted that it has been cumbersome to talk about the stalled stadium stating that drunkards are misusing the facility.

Chepmworem noted that the field which is unfinished has gullies, which not only pose a risk for the drunkards but also to children who use the field to grazing animals and playing.

"Imagine children play and sometimes use the facility to graze their livestock, they interact with people who are drunk and even see what these people do while drunk, morally it will erode their good morals given that children observe," he insisted.

Elijah Koech said Governor Stanley Kiptis should ensure the stadium is completed and avoid blaming the previous regime for the stalled project.

"This is an abandoned project that the governor seems to have his own reasons he should not blame the former regime but instead he should commence with the work immediately," 

Kabarnet Member of County Assembly Ernest Kibet said that the state of Kabarnet stadium is as a result of the current regime blaming the previous one.

He noted that the county government on numerous occasions has blamed the previous contractors on the shoddy work and that they don't want to be involved in it.

However, the County executive committee Sports Clement Lomaring'oria indicated that the project has stalled due to an audit queries where the auditors have questioned the work done on the stadium which has cost over 40 million.

The CEC observed the previous regime had numerous contractors who did shoddy work on civil work, electrical and water supply.

"When the project stalled, auditors came in and said that the project was poorly done, it is impossible to work on a project with queries," said the CEC.

He further added that the project is estimated to cost over Sh500 million will commence once they procured a title deed which they are now working with the ministry of lands.

"The title deed will cost Sh2 million, we are working with the department of lands to make sure that we own the land to avoid future problems, that might arise," Lomaring'oria says.

Lomaring'oria cautions the residents who trespass and use the facility for their leisure.

"For the issue of safety, everyone should be responsible, in that it is a personal initiative for each one to be responsible because when you take alcohol and enter into the stadium knowing how it is you are on your own," CEC sport added.

The county government in the financial year 2014/2015 proposed the construction of the boundary wall at the stadium at Sh10, 775, 356. This was however left incomplete and part of it collapsed.

A contractor was awarded contract No BRCG/C/116/2016-17 to rehabilitate the stadium at a cost of Sh17.5Million. The contract agreement was signed on November 22, 2017, and the commencement date was December 1, 2017. The expected date of completion was February 28, 2018.

Examination of expenditure records for the Ministry of Youth Gender Sports and Culture revealed that the contractor has been paid Sh16, 776,268 as at June 2018.

Physical verification of the project revealed that the stadium is incomplete and the contractor is not on-site and no material or workers were at the site as an indication work is in progress

A 2016/ 2017 Controller of Budget report showed that there was the construction of sanitation, changing rooms and pavilion at the stadium at a cost of Sh23.7Million.

Sh12, 843, 011 had been spent but a visit to the stadium revealed that there were no such structures at the Stadium.