The stalled Wote Stadium will now be completed in February 2022, Sports Kenya Chairman Charles Waithaka has said.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Makueni County Commissioner Mr. Maalim Mohammed in his boardroom, Waithaka said the Sh350 million stadium stalled in December 2020 after the contractor Traphes and Nitram Enterprises Limited faced challenges in doing the works.
During the meeting, the newly appointed Sports chairman said the stadium pavilion will now be relocated from the western to the eastern side due to instability of the ground.
Further, Waithaka said that the contractor will also sink a borehole that will be used to provide irrigation water to irrigate grass at the stadium, aimed at compacting the running track.
At the same time, the chairman requested that electricity be installed at the stadium to enable the contractor to work day and night to redeem the lost time, besides ensuring close supervision from the Department of Works.
“Approval of works are key, we need the Department of Works to fast-track the works to ensure the work specifications are adhered to. We hope that the project will be completed in time so that it can be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta,” added Waithaka.
On harvesting storm water, the chairman said his organization had funds that they can use to harvest the water that goes to waste. However, he said the relevant departments have to come up with their own budgets.
On his part, the County Commissioner said he will mobilize the local multi-agency team through the County Development Implementation Committee to monitor the progress of the 20,000 capacity stadium and ensure it is completed as scheduled.
Consequently, Mohammed said they will also hold weekly meetings geared towards delivering the project using the multi-agency approach.
Sports Kenya Director General Pius Metto accompanied and other board members also attended the meeting.
By Patrick Nyakundi
