Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata has appealed to Mumbi Girls High School to surrender part of its land to ensure the ground meets the required space to hold the Jamhuri Day celebration.
The National Celebrations Committee had indicated that about eight acres of land were required for the ground to be expanded yet it only had about five acres.
Kang’ata said three more acres were needed from both Mumbi Girls High School and the neighbouring Mbiri Primary School.
But he noted that the high school’s management declined to surrender the land saying it would eat into its playing ground.
The school's principal Esther Wambugu told The Star that the committee should have engaged the Cabinet Secretary in charge of interior to liaise with the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
However, the governor said the school expressed fears that once Mumbi ground is expanded into a national stadium, it would be locked away from the access of locals, including its students, leaving it with insufficient space.
According to the principal, the school sits on 13 acres and it has no authority to hive off part of the land.
"This land does not belong to the school. It was public land that had been set aside for public utilities.," she said.
Kang’ata however appealed to the school to consider rescinding its decision saying the location of the stadium in Murang’a town would boost the growth of the town.
"Mumbi ground had been grabbed in the 1990s and I was part of the process of getting it back when I served in the defunct Murang’a municipal council,” he said.
The ground is currently used for local sports activities and county government events.
But with Gakoigo Stadium in Murang’a South subcounty having nine acres within its premises, the committee is said to be considering expanding it for the national celebrations.
The stadium was previously used by the devolved unit to organize trade and agricultural fairs and has permanent stalls.
