Audit: Stadium gobbles up more than Sh50m but nothing to show for it

A section of the perimeter wall of Kabarnet Stadium in Kabarnet town in Baringo County on March 25, 2018. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Despite churning out world class athletes of Paul Tergat’s calibre, Baringo County has no sports facility of repute.

An attempt to build a stadium in Kabarnet has gobbled up Sh50.5 million and left behind a grotesque facility.

For six years now, the county government has allocated money to construct the stadium but haphazard and incomplete works have left the grounds in derelict state.

A Sh10 million perimeter fence was left midway; leveling works were less than impressive while a pavilion and changing rooms exist on paper.

“We cannot say we have a stadium. A lot needs to be done to realise the dream of having one that is up to standard,” said Godfrey Kokoyo, who served as Koibatek Athletics Kenya secretary for 12 years.

He said the county government should explain the delay in putting up the stadium.

An audit on the stadium between 2013 and 2017 revealed that it has consumed millions of shillings.

The county government in the financial year 2014/2015 proposed construction of the boundary wall at the stadium at Sh10,775,356. The construction tender was awarded to M/S Trumph.

At the time of audit in 2015 construction works were ongoing. The auditor general however raised queries after it emerged the county government did not own the land.

During the period Sh2,851,542.12 was paid vide payment voucher numbers 10000542 and 10000541 of October 6, 2014.

“Although the works are ongoing the county government does not own the land where the construction is being done. The expenditure may go to waste if a third party claims the same land,” read the report by the auditor general then.

The audit a contractor, Birmask Limited was awarded a tender at a contract sum of Sh14 milion for earth works and leveling. The contract was to last two months - from October 4, 2015 to December 4, 2015.

“As at June 2016 the contractor had been paid Sh12,620,861 for work done. However, at the time of audit verification in October 2016, the stadium had not been completed,” said the report.

A 2016/2017 Controller of Budget report showed there was construction of sanitation, changing rooms and pavilion at the stadium at a cost of Sh23.7 million but no structure in sight.

Baringo County Education, Sports and Culture CEC Thomas Nongonop said the amount allocated to the stadium was little and just a drop in the ocean. The stadium, he said would require at least Sh500 million to be complete.