Murang’a County Assembly has adopted a report recommending upgrading of two local stadia to higher levels that will enable them to host national and regional sporting activities.
In a report tabled before the House by Chairperson for the Assembly’s Committee for Youth, Culture and Social Services Sharleen Wambui, the MCAs expressed concern that the county currently has no stadium which could host national sports’ tournaments.
Majority of the MCAs passed the motion of adopting the report which recommended upgrade of Gakoigo and Mumbi grounds to sport complex facilities.
Gakoigo stadium which is located a few metres from Maragua town is said to be the largest facility in the county with the MCAs saying the ground should be allocated funds for upgrade in the next financial year.
The report further recommended construction of one stadium in every sub county within the period of next five years.
“Upgrading of our stadium will give Murang’a an opportunity to host national and international sports. Currently, it is unfortunate our county cannot be considered to host games for national soccer tournaments,” stated Wambui.
She stated the report recommends that in the next financial year, funds should be factored to upgrade Mumbi grounds in Murang’a town and Gakoigo in Maragua before other stadiums are built in the other remaining seven sub-counties.
Kahumbu MCA Isaac Njoroge Chefman who supported the motion asked the county administration to first establish ownership of the playgrounds to be upgraded.
He revealed that some of the grounds earmarked for upgrade at the sub county levels were owned by schools and there was need to clarify on ownership details so as to avoid conflicts after the facilities are upgraded.
Chefman further underscored the upgrading of Gakoigo saying the stadium is centrally located and could easily be accessed by teams from outside the county.
Ithanga MCA Ndunda Alex Ndunda claimed people from his ward were not factored while the report was being drawn.
Ndunda noted that the stadiums should not only be upgraded to support soccer saying the facilities should be made to attract various sports including athletics and swimming among others.
“The upgrade programme should not only capture football but other sports activities. Murang’a youth are talented differently and need to be given conducive environment to nature their talents,” added Ithanga MCA.
Responding to concerns raised by some of MCAs, the chairperson of the committee said that various sport activities would be introduced in the county progressively.
Wambui said that the committee would use the county sport policy to introduce the new sports and provide needed infrastructure.
She also said that the county will have a Memorandum of Understanding with the heads of primary and secondary so as to share the sports’ grounds owned by the institutions.
By Bernard Munyao and Ian Muchiri
