Investment in sports infrastructure and talent
development remains a cornerstone of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation
Agenda (BETA), with the government steadily delivering on its promise to uplift
Kenya's sporting sector to international standards.
It
is in this understanding that President William Ruto’s administration has gone
full throttle with investments in sports infrastructure across the 47 counties.
The
administration seeks to outdo the past regimes in this area of investment as it
aims at nurturing youth talent and ensuring each county has standard playing
fields in different sporting disciplines to support the subsector’s development.
With
37 sports academies and several stadia being put up in different counties, President Ruto’s administration outdoes its predecessors, as no other administration has ever invested in the modernisation
of sports infrastructure on such a scale.
The two major stadia that have served the country for years - Nyayo and Kasarani - were built approximately four decades ago, in 1984 and 1987, respectively.
Now, through President William Ruto’s efforts, Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums have been upgraded to international standards, while the newly constructed magnificent Talanta City Sports Stadium is expected to be ready by February next year.
The last time Kenya hosted a serious soccer event was in 1987 during the all-Africa Games in Kasarani Stadium and now with the renovation of the two sports facilities, the country has been able to host the African Nations Championships (CHAN) tournaments even as it prepares again to host Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in June and July 2027 augmented by the Talanta Sports Stadium.
The country is going large on the sports infrastructure with 37 Sports Academies currently being constructed in the counties by the Ministry of Youth, Creative Economy and Sports and plans to have the institutions put up in all the constituencies in the next four years.
Modern stadia that are completed in counties include: Wang’uru stadium in Kirinyaga, Kericho Green stadium, also known as Kiprugut Arap Chumo stadium, Kisumu Mambo Leo Stadium, Raila Odinga stadium in Homabay, Moi Stadium in Embu, Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma County and the Kwale stadium in Kwale County.
The other stadiums whose construction is in progress are; Marsabit stadium, Wote stadium, Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret, Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega, Kamariny stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet and Ithookwe stadium in Kitui, scheduled to host this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations later in October.
President says the Government will continue to dedicate even more resources to infrastructure that supports talent growth in sports.
“We will continue to dedicate resources to make sure we build the infrastructure that supports the great talents that we have in sports,” he says.
The president also appeals to companies and philanthropic organisations to step out and support sports teams from the grassroots to nurture talent nationwide.
He
is happy that Kenya welcomed Africa through the just concluded CHAN tournaments
and emphasised the government’s firm resolve not to repeat in future the
shortcomings of 1996 and 2018, where Kenya’s bids were withdrawn or
disqualified due to infrastructure gaps.
“This
time, we were able to host CHAN because we have invested and upgraded our
sports infrastructure, making us qualified to host the tournament,” he said.
And
on his part, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet
Secretary, Salim Mvurya notes that sports facilities are part of President
Ruto’s vision that compels his ministry to continue with preparing sports
facilities across the country to harness the talent of young men and women for
socio-economic development.
Mvurya
promises to re-double the Government’s efforts to not only catch up, but also be
on the same footing with other sporting countries by ensuring Kenya has
state-of-the-art facilities in all corners.
“Kenya
Kwanza Government wants to empower youth by nurturing their talents so that
they can earn a living out of their own capacities,” Cs Mvurya says.
He
notes that by having the modern sports facilities across the country,
opportunities will open up for all, as for instance, the 2027 AFCON will not be
hosted in Nairobi County alone, but also in counties like Eldoret and Kakamega, where the residents will have a chance to benefit economically from the
presence of visitors, boosting their business incomes.
“AFCON
will give opportunities to counties outside Nairobi, unlike the CHAN tournament, which was only played in Nairobi County,” the CS explains.
He
further notes that the talent academies being put up in the counties are set to
give the youth in the grassroots a chance to realise and nurture their talents.
The
Government, he adds, is committed to investing more in the talent academies to
assist the youth in talent exploitation and encourage the current competency-based curriculum (CBC) education, which is focused more on nurturing talents
early enough.
The
Deputy Government Spokesperson, Gabriel Muthuma, also noted that the government
was changing the face of sports in the country, saying that once the Talanta
sports city stadium is completed, the country will be FIFA-ready to host the
2027 AFCON soccer matches.
He
said that according to the BETA agenda, the government was focused on
empowerment efforts, including nurturing talents for the youth right from the
grassroots, so that they earn a living out of it.
“The
Government’s investment in sports infrastructure across the country is a
credible and deliberate action for empowerment of the young generation to develop
their capacities in respective disciplines,” said Muthuma.
Munira Mandano works at the Office of Government Spokesperson.
