Upgrade of Bukhungu stadium to international standards requires more than Sh5 billion, Governor Fernandes Barasa has said.
The governor spoke during the Elijah Lidonde soccer talent search for under 15 and under 17 at the stadium on Friday.
Construction of the second phase of the stadium is 47 per cent done. Two more phases remain.
President William Ruto accepted to a Public Private Partnership engagement towards completion of the stadium by Barasa during his visit to Kakamega on December 8.
“Following the President’s acceptance to my request, I constituted a technical committee for further discussions with officers of Sports Kenya in the ministry and we look forward to positive deliberations,” Barasa said.
Once complete, the 30,000 capacity Bukhungu International Stadium will also hold facilities up to the level of FIFA standards.
These include VIP lounges, VIP box, press room, anti-doping testing rooms, team doctors’ rooms, sportsmen hotel, four hire-out refreshment cafeterias and staff offices.
The stadium will also have warming-up tracks for sportsmen a volleyball, basketball and netball pitch, a gymnasium and ample car parking bays.
Early successful completion of the stadium will position Kakamega county among few hosts of international sports personalities and football fans during the 2027 AFCON tournament, which Kenya is bidding to host.
Barasa said the national government has given a Sh100 million support towards completion of the ongoing 14 stadia in the country.
Once completed, the stadia will serve as sports centres of excellence that will complement Mumias sports complex and Bukhungu International Stadium in identifying and nurturing sports talents in the county and beyond.
“Most football teams will definitely make these arenas their official home grounds, which will help enhance the county’s socio-economic development and boost our own source revenue,” the governor said.
The two-month grassroots youth’s knockout tournament for boys and girls brought together 488 teams impacting positively on more than 11,500 youths from Shinyalu, Ikolomani and host Lurambi subcounties.
