Sports Kenya officials visit General Kassam playfield after President Ruto committed to upgrade the facility to a modern stadium
Officials from Sports Kenya have visited General Kassam playfield in Kianyaga to access its status before the government commences process of upgrading the facility.
The technical team which toured the facility on Wednesday is expected to prepare a detailed report, potential designs and get financial estimates for the upgrade.
Sports Kenya Deputy Director for Technical Services Gabriel Komora said that the team had come to collect accurate data on the facility.
“We came to conduct a preliminary assessment of the facility to get an accurate picture of the space available, see what can fit in the field and know all the requirements we will need to transform it into a facility that is up to the required standards,” Komora said.
The visit comes just three weeks after President William Ruto agreed to Governor Anne Waiguru’s request for the national government to help the county government in upgrading the field into a modern stadium.
On his part, President Ruto who spoke during the commissioning of the Gichugu Affordable Housing project in Kianyaga last month, committed to upgrade the facility once the county government allocates Ksh.100 million promised by Governor Waiguru to kick-start the works.
The Council of Governors (CoG) chair said once upgraded, the stadium will host more local, regional and national sporting events and the same time generate more revenue
Komora said the team would hand over its report to the Ministry of Sport once its completed.
Deputy Governor David Githanda who represented Governor Waiguru during the tour, said that the visit by the technical team shows President Ruto’s commitment to fulfil his promise to the people.
He expressed optimism that the construction work would start soon.
“Residents are excited as this stadium will provide a venue for local sports matches as well as provide a well-equipped place for high altitude training,” he added.
Githanda said the county government was waiting for the official commissioning and handing over of Wang’uru Stadium for use by members of the public.
The Deputy Governor said that for the last six years, the county government has put emphasis on upgrading sports fields so that the county can nurture local talents.
Once upgraded, the facility will become second stadium in the county after Wanguru International Stadium.
The sport field is named after a renowned independence freedom fighter General Kassam and is strategically located at the heart of Gichugu Constituency which is branded as a resort city in Governor Waiguru’s Mountain Cities Blue Print.
Sports enthusiast in Kirinyaga have welcomed plans to into a stadium saying upgrading of the facility was long overdue and offers hope for upcoming sportsmen.
