Wang’uru Stadium to open its doors for public use in three months
Wang’uru International Stadium in Kirinyaga County is set to open its doors for use by 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-sitter stadium will bring immense benefits for Kirinyaga people especially the youth who will use to nurture and develop their sports talent. He noted that stadium, which is about 99 percent complete will be ready to usher in players and funs 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 of 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 magnificent. “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, racetracks, and recreation facilities, changing rooms, VIP holding rooms, a VIP Pavilion and a police post among others.
