Government to Offer a Hand in Building a Stadium in Kilifi

By Robby Ngoba

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The national government in partnership with Kilifi county government will construct a 10,000 seater modern stadium at Uwanja wa Water in Kilifi town.

The construction which will cost about Ksh800 million aims to foster talents development and skill growth at the grassroots level.

Speaking to the media after inspecting the site over the weekend, sports and youth affairs cabinet secretary Salim Mvurya said the initiative was aligned with President William Ruto’s agenda and vision 2030.

He added the stadium would meet the international standards fit to hold reputable sporting championship saying that the facility would bolster talents as well as growing the economy of the region.

“This stadium will not only nature talents to our youth but also open business opportunities in the nearby people.”

The CS referred to the programme as part of a broader efforts by the government to invest more in sports infrastructure development across the country citing other counties were already seeing similar development.

“The government has already started constructing and upgrading several stadiums including Kasarani, Nyanyo National Stadium in redness for hosting the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) among others and at the grassroots it has been engaging and partnering with Counties to build more sporting amenities.”

Mvurya stated that the government has also earmarked plans of establishing sports academies across the country in an effort to nurture talent and propel sports to higher level.

He disclosed that it was through the academies where talents could be identified from the grassroots level to meet international sporting standards.

“Sporting industry remains an important sector in the country and over the years has contributed significantly to economic growth.”

Governor Gideon Mung’aro on his part said his government has allocated Ksh200 million for the commencement of the project within this year’s financial budget.

He reiterated that the contract would take between eight to ten months for the stadium to be completed.

“We have already set aside Ksh200 million in our financial budget but we are looking to sink Ksh300 million more in the September supplementary budget then the remaining amount will be facilitated by the national government,” he said.

Through the partnership, Mung’aro revealed that his vision wss to build more than four stadiums in the County so as to foster grassroots sports and nature young talents.

Meanwhile, traders are expecting booming business on the completion of the stadium with hawkers of small businesses around the stadium.

Agnes Anzazi, a fruit vender, said she anticipated good business as the user of the stadium and member of the public would have to pass through her stalls for bites and juices.

“I forsee good things once this stadium is completed. This is dream in waiting,” she said.