Busia develops draft sports policy, seeks to improve stadium

Busia County Sports, Culture, Gender and Tourism Executive Committee Olunga Ekwenye addressing the media at Hotel Levantes in Amagoro/IMAGE /HILTON OTENYO

The county government of Busia has developed a draft sports policy that seeks to guide talent development and the improvement of sports infrastructure across the county.

County Executive Committee Member for Sports, Culture, Gender and Tourism, Olunga Ekwenye, said the policy document will be presented to the county cabinet next week for approval.

“The document will open doors for funding of sports in the county and provide a framework for the development of both infrastructure and talent harnessing,” Ekwenye said.

The policy is also expected to address challenges facing the youth, including drug abuse and unemployment, by creating more opportunities in sports.

Speaking to the press in Amagoro, Ekwenye said the national government has allocated Sh700 million for the construction of a modern stadium in Busia County.

He said the facility, once completed, will host national and international sporting events.

Ekwenye said the ongoing renovation of the Acunet Malaba Stadium will include the construction of a standard athletics track, complete with a water jump for steeplechase, to meet Athletics Kenya standards.

“Busia Stadium is currently unable to host athletics meetings due to lack of a water jump for steeplechase. We shall now have it at Malaba Stadium,” he said.

The county executive further announced that the second edition of the Governor’s Cup in 2025 will be better structured and more competitive than the first.

He said the tournament will run from the ward level to subcounty and county levels, ensuring broader participation and talent identification.

The winners of this year’s competition will walk away with Sh1 million, up from Sh500,000 last year, while the top team in the women’s category will take home Sh500,000, double the previous amount.

“We are also contemplating introducing other disciplines such as volleyball and short races to motivate more youth to participate,” he added.

Ekwenye said doping cases in Busia have reduced significantly due to the intervention of the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse and increased monitoring by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.