Millions spent, little progress: The shame of Kenya's stalled stadiums

Kenyans’ hopes of having state-of-the-art stadiums across the country may not be realised, despite the allocation and expenditure of millions of shillings.

A recent 2022/2023 audit by the Auditor General on Sports Kenya questioned the allocation of Sh4.2 billion for stadium development, noting that most of the projects had stalled, with contractors abandoning the sites. According to the audit, the statement of financial position showed a work-in-progress balance of Sh4,259,127,880.

The report showed that the expenditure of Sh81,590,104 on the Kamariny Stadium project in Elgeyo Marakwet County could not be verified, despite being paid to a contractor. The stadium’s contract, awarded on September 6, 2016, was for Sh287,837,775 and included the construction of a 15,000-seat pavilion, a standard football pitch, a borehole and water storage, electrical and mechanical works, and an eight-lane track with field event facilities.