By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Kipchumba Murkomen, has assured the National Assembly that the Ministry is on track to complete the stadia that will host the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2025 and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
The CS made these remarks when he appeared before the House to respond to Members’ Questions in Plenary.
MPs sought to know the state of preparedness of key sporting facilities to host international sports events, more specifically, CHAN and AFCON.
Murkomen briefed Members that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President visited the Country on 15th September 2024, to assess Kenya’s preparedness to host the events.
He informed the House that the CAF President had expressed satisfaction with the progress Kenya has made so far.
The CS told MPs that the Talanta Sports City Complex that is being constructed along Ngong Road in Jamuhuri, is at 23 per cent , with an expected completion timeline of December 2025.
“This stadium shall have a 60,000 seater capacity and will be accompanied by three training grounds; two running tracks and one football pitch which shall be shared with the Rugby fraternity. We are delivering this together with the Ministry of Defence, who are the contracted agents of the Ministry of Sports”, Murkomen informed the lawmakers.
“For the purpose of the AFCON, the Nyayo National Stadium Grounds shall be categorized as the training grounds with the Talanta stadium being the main stadium”, he added.
On the status of the Moi International Sports Center (MISC) Kasarani which shall also be used for CHAN in February 2025, the CS informed the House that the renovation works for the anticipated 55,000 seating capacity stadium currently stand at 47 per cent, noting that the Ministry anticipates completion in December this year.
On the training grounds for CHAN, the CS stated that the contractor is working on the MISC Kasarani Annex; two pitches at the Kenya Academy of Sports ground and Kirigiti Stadium, all of which are expected to be completed by December 2024.
In addition, the CS noted, the Kipchoge Keino Stadium with a 15,000 seater capacity is also expected to be completed by December 2025 in readiness for AFCON 2027.
The CS further notified the House of the change of the stadia to host CHAN to Moi International Sports Center Kasarani (MISC) and Nyayo National Stadium.
“Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Sports had identified the Masinde Muliro Kanduyi Stadium, Bukhungu Stadium and Nyayo National Stadium to host CHAN. However, when CAF inspectors visited the above facilities, they recommended MISC and Nyayo National Stadium to host the championships,” said CS Murkomen.
The CS also pointed out the development of a masterplan categorizing infrastructure development. This was in response to a question on the infrastructure that the Ministry is considering for sporting facilities across the country.
“We have International Stadia on category 4 status with over 30,000 sitting capacity, the National Stadia on Category 3A with a 15,000 to 30,000 sitting capacity, Regional or County Stadia on category 3B with 10,000 to 15,000 sitting capacity, Community Grounds (A) on category 2 with a capacity of 5,000 to 10,000 and Community Grounds (B) on category 1 with a capacity of 5,000 and below”, the CS stated.
Members had sought to know the specific measures put in place to accelerate the completion of the stalled or incomplete stadia across the country.
He noted that his Ministry through collaboration with the Kenya School of TVET has developed prototype designs and Bills of Quantities for different categories of stadia.
Further, Murkomen proposed collaboration with the private sector in the construction of modern sports infrastructure.
“We are reviewing the Sports Policy to know how best the private sector can help finance the projects. All over the world, governments don’t own stadiums. It is costing a lot of money to the taxpayer without any much return. But if it was owned by the private sector, they would commercialize it and then it would be available for sports activities”, he averred.
The Leader of Majority Party, Kimani Ichung’wah sought to know the measures the Ministry is taking to ensure the stadia are upheld in proper standards, once they are handed over to the County Governments.
The CS stressed that there will be a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be signed between the National and County Governments during the handover of the stadias, and the MoU will cover all the maintenance mechanisms.
Caroli Omondi, a Member of the Sports Committee, expressed concern over the Kenya Academy of Sports receiving zero budgetary allocation in this Financial Year, with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) receiving only 20 percent allocation which can barely cover administration costs.
He sought assurance from the CS that there are no plans to undermine the operations of ADAK or fold up the Sports Academy.
The CS in response said that so far, he is not aware of any plans to wind up the Kenya Academy of Sports and ADAK.
He emphasized that ADAK is a requirement of international agencies for a country to operate sports facilities and therefore has to be operational.
