The Mountain Journal
Wang’uru International Stadium in Kirinyaga County is set to
open its doors for use by the public in three months’ time.
This was revealed by Kirinyaga Deputy Governor, David
Githanda, when he accompanied the Principal Secretary for Sports and Arts, Jonathan Mueke, on
an inspection tour of the stadium.
Githanda said that the completion of the 15,000 seater
stadium will bring immense benefits for
Kirinyaga people, especially the youth who will use it to nurture and develop their sports talent.
He noted that the stadium, which is about 99 percent complete
will be ready to usher in players and fans after undergoing a few final touches that the
inspection team, comprising of Ministry of Sports officials, Sports Kenya officials, the contractor and
Mwea Member of Parliament Mary Maingi, had recommended.
“We are looking forward to the opening of the stadium since
it will be of great benefit to our people. The county has about 200 sports teams who compete
from the ward level to the county level,” he noted.
He pointed out that the stadium came as a result of intense
lobbying by Governor Anne Waiguru whose commitment in supporting sports talent in the county
has been consistent over the years she has been in leadership.
The deputy governor also hailed the consideration to have a
Sports Academy established at the stadium noting that it will go a long way in identification
and nurturing of the local sports talent.
He noted that engaging the youth in sports is a way of
keeping them from engaging in criminal activities born out of idleness.
He said that the stadium
will contribute to the county’s economic development through initiatives such as ‘Hustler Stalls’
that will host various demand driven business ventures within the stadium.
Other economic
activities that will be brought about by the stadium include hospitality and camping.
On his side, PS Mueke said that the world class stadium will
be hosting premium sports leagues as well as local leagues. It will also be used as training
grounds for the national team Harambee Stars in preparation for international matches.
“We are happy with the way the stadium has come out and we
will be handing over a quality and high standard facility to the people of Kirinyaga. The
community is very eager to have a world class facility in the county,” said the P.S.
He noted that through the National Government run Talanta
Hela program, talent among the youth will be identified and harnessed with the aim of
enabling them generate money out of their talents, noting that a stadium forms the hardware of
monetizing sports talent.
He said that the government was committed to ensuring that
all the regions in Kenya have adequate sporting infrastructure for use by young people.
Mwea Member of Parliament, Mary Maingi, noted that the
stadium will not only help in promoting sports in the county but will contribute to the
economy of the county and raise its GDP through various business opportunities brought about by
a facility of such a status.
“This facility will be bringing together tens of thousands
of people who will be spending money in our county, thus growing our county’s economy,” she
added.
The stadium has a standard pitch, race tracks, and
recreation facilities, changing rooms, VIP holding rooms, a VIP Pavilion and a police post among
others.
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