Kericho Governor Eric Mutai (L) during inspection of ongoing construction work at Kiprugut Chumo Stadium
Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has expressed excitement over what he termed as transformative development projects initiated by President William Ruto in the region over the last three years.
He said the government had initiated key projects in several sectors, including infrastructure, water, sports, education and agriculture.
"These key projects will go a long way in transforming the lives of our people, and we thank the President for having the foresight needed to take this country to the next level," Mutai said.
The governor made the remarks when he visited Kiprugut Chumo Stadium to inspect the ongoing construction works.
The iconic Kiprugut Chumo Stadium was named after the celebrated pioneer Kenyan long-distance athlete from Kericho county who rose to prominence in the 1960s.
The government has released Sh900 million to the State Department for Sports and the Kenya Defence Forces for the construction of the stadium.
Mutai conveyed his appreciation to President Ruto for the decision to transform the stadium into an international-standard sporting facility, reaffirming Kericho's place as the cradle of athletics in Kenya.
The renovation works are being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) under the supervision of the Kenya Defence Forces.
Upon completion, the stadium will have a seating capacity of more than 20,000 spectators and will feature an IAAF-standard tartan track alongside other modern sporting amenities.
The upgraded facility is expected to position Kericho as a premier destination for sports, talent development and regional competitions, while providing world-class infrastructure for nurturing future athletics champions.
Mutai said the Kericho government will repurpose the steel structures removed during the renovation to support the development and upgrading of peripheral stadiums in Londiani, Sosiot and Tulwet.
He was accompanied by ICT, sports and youth affairs executive Beatrice Kaptich and acting chief officer Betsy Chebet.
Mutai said Kiprugut Chumo Stadium is one of the stadiums currently under construction in the region.
The government is also fast-tracking the completion of Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet as preparations gather pace for this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations to be held on 20 October.
Construction of the stadium, which had stalled for several years, is now expected to be completed within the next three months to ensure the venue is ready to host the national event, which will be presided over by Ruto.
Top government officials and representatives from Sports Kenya have been making regular visits to the site to monitor progress and ensure the project remains on schedule.
Preparations received a further boost after Governor Wesley Rotich hosted the second multi-agency meeting at his Iten office to review plans for the celebrations.
The governor received updates from various departments before leading officials on an inspection tour of Kamariny Stadium to assess the ongoing construction works.
"We have started preparations early for the Mashujaa Day national celebrations to be held in our county, and we have several teams working to ensure everything is in order," Rotich said.
