Kakamega's Bukhungu Stadium will be closed for four months to allow for renovation and upgrading ahead of hosting the African Nations Championships (CHAN) in September this year.
The closure will affect local league matches in different divisions that will now be played at the Mumias Sports Complex or other venues.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa conducted a site visit of the stadium to assess areas that require modification and the time frame required.
The stadium, which previously hosted Cecafa Under-18 games is also expected to co-host Afcon in 2027 as the upgrading process continues.
A raft of renovations including lighting, changing rooms, and natural ground converted to CAF standards among others will be carried out during the closure period, according to CS Namwamba.
“Bukhungu is a famous ground synonymous with the history of football, home to the greatest footballers and our collaboration is about completing it to international status,” Namwamba said.
The national and county governments will collaborate in financing the completion of the stadium whose first phase cost Sh475 million.
Governor Barasa said the stadium's upgrade is in its second phase and the county has already pumped in Sh400 million this financial year. The third phase will cost Sh1.4 billion.
“Officials from the Ministry of Sports have come with technical teams to inspect this stadium to see areas in which the national government can partner with us to make the facility ready for hosting CHAN and Afcon,” Barasa said.
“Kakamega has the great potential to host significant games and the county has proven it has what it takes to be good hosts for big tournaments as we have seen before,” he said.
The project was approved for implementation after public participation and in 2015, the county government awarded the contract to Wilkori Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Company Limited in December 2017.
The first phase involved offices of the county government, 200 capacity parking space, construction of stands, VIP and VVIP rooms, a doping control room and two changing rooms among others.
The second phase will involve the main VIP Stand, building terraces, gym room, six changing rooms, and dispensary room among others.
The third phase will involve the main work in the C section which is finishes, fixes, safety installations, civil works specialist installations like lights, pitch earthworks, carpeting, and access roads among others.
