The talented youth in Tharaka Nithi County have a reason to smile after the government for the second time this month confirmed that the Sh274 million modern stadium at Chuka town will be completed by the end of July.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports, Culture and Heritage Ambassador Amina Mohammed, said Kirubia Stadium in the outskirts of Chuka town will be handed over to the county government by the President at the end of July.
” I am pleased to see how the county and national government are working together to see to the completion of this major project and I can assure you that by the end of July the President will be here to hand it over to the county government, ” said CS Amina.
Speaking during the inspection of the stadium Ambassador Amina said the stadium has been under construction for more than one and a half years and for now it should be in its final touches.
In addition, the CS disclosed that other stadiums including Kinoru stadium in Meru County, Nyayo in Nairobi, Kisumu stadium, Kipchoge Keino in Uasin Gishu County and Wote in Makueni will all be completed between July and December or latest early next year.
Speaking during the event the Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Ms. Beverly Opwora disclosed that Kirubia stadium is one of the national government projects in the county scheduled to be completed this year.
Ms. Opwora further undertook to ensure that the youth benefit with employment, talent nurturing and other activities that will be taking place in the stadiums and the county at large.
Others present during the event were the Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, Senator Kithure Kindiki, and the Chuka-Igamba ng’ombe legislator Patrick Munene.
The governor hailed the President for delivering his promise of completing the stadium among other projects to Tharaka Nithi residents adding that the County Government has already made a Memorandum of Understanding with Sports Kenya for maintenance which will go a long way in protecting the legacy of Jubilee government and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy.
Barely a fortnight ago the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the same Ministry Hassan Noor Hassan said Kirubia Stadium should be completed soon to tap the vast local talent available in Tharaka Nithi County.
“The completion of this stadium is behind schedule because of challenges in resources and delays in construction but now the resources are available in accordance with what has been signed and what has been contracted,” the CAS had said.
Speaking during an inspection visit at the stadium early this month Hassan disclosed that President Uhuru Kenyatta has provided for resources for the completion of the stadium that was slightly more than 70 percent complete.
Once completed Kirubia stadium that is being run by Sports Kenya and under construction by Toddy Civil Engineering Company, is expected to boost the economy of Chuka town that is Tharaka Nithi county’s commercial hub.
It has an underground tank for storing water both for domestic use and watering the grass on the pitch and is therefore expected to remain green during all seasons a challenge that faces many modern stadiums in several counties across the country.
The stadium rests on a five-acre piece of land.
By David Mutwiri/Monicah Nyagah
