Contractor keeps away from Rift stadium over Sh200m in unpaid dues

By MICHAEL WESONGA

Uasin Gishu County: Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret remains in a state of neglect after the contractor abandoned rehabilitation works over unpaid dues.

The contractor, Akber Jamal, said he has been waiting for the release of Sh200 million from the government before resuming rehabilitation works that started in 2008.

“We had used our money and it is therefore not logical to pump in more funds into the project until we get funds from the government,” he said.

 The contractor further said delay in processing his dues had even put him in a fix with the financing bank that loaned him the start up capital.

 Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago regretted the neglect despite contribution made by athletes from the North Rift region in bringing glory to Kenya worldwide, and who utilised the stadium for training before it was closed for renovation.

“The state of this stadium, named after our internationally famous athletics legend, is a big embarrassment to say the least,” he said.

A spot check at the stadium revealed a tartan track remained intact in six containers within the confines of the stadium four months after it was delivered.

Grass and other vegetation has started growing around them owing to the payment that has prevented laying of the tartan.

The tartan had earlier been withheld at the port of Mombasa for six months in December last year by the Kenya Revenue Authority over failure to pay requisite taxes.

Our spot check also established that sections of the stadium wall have visible cracks that is a risk to the informal traders plying their trade around it.

The traders go about their normal daily routines oblivious of the danger posed by the weak walls that threaten to collapse.

The persistent rain has significantly damaged layers of the tarmac that was neatly laid all-round the track exposing the hardcore rocks beneath it creating room for grass and weeds.

The unattended football pitch and every other ground in the stadium is characterised by overgrown grass species different from the one recommended for similar purposes.

Athletics managers in the North Rift led by celebrated athlete Moses Tanui said the state of stadiums upcountry where most athletes train is testament to lack of commitment to sports development in Kenya.

“That Kipchoge Keino Stadium can remain like this all these years shows how a blind eye has been turned to athletics and general sports development in Kenya by authorities. Yet athletics has sold this country, earning it huge economic gains,” he said.

Tanui called on the government to hasten its plans to build modern stadiums based on its campaign pledge saying this will save the country’s face.