The upgrading of Bungoma’s Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi into a modern and state-of-the-art sports facility kicked off today at a cost of Sh650 million.
Sitting on 20 acres, the upgrade of the facility is split into two phases. The first phase of the upgrade will see the stadium built to accommodate up to 5,000 people including VIP bleachers with 2,000-seater capacity and public bleachers with 3,000-seater capacity.
This phase will also include the construction of the main terrace, balcony and office space for heads of departments. This first phase is expected to run for two years.
The second phase will see the stadium expanded to a 20,000-seater capacity facility – the biggest anywhere in the Western region. When complete, the stadium will have different facilities and offices including spectator areas, changing rooms, lockers, rooms for sports officials and team coaches, changing rooms for ancillary staff, public washrooms, First Aid and medical centre, pitch maintenance and control room as well as VIP Lounge.
Others facilities include a Media Centre, VVIP Lounge, boardrooms, an anti-doping room and referee changing rooms. The stadium will have a basketball court, football, volleyball, rugby, hockey and netball pitches, a swimming pool and a hall for indoor games and a gymnasium.
Masinde Muliro Stadium was first built in the 1950s. The facility, then called Kanduyi Stadium hosted sporting activities in Bungoma and from neighbouring regions. At its prime, it hosted prime leagues in the Country
The infrastructure then as it is now comprised the pavilion that sits 500 people and the fencing, which was last repaired in 2015.
The move attests to Governor Wycliffe Wangamati’s commitment to growing sports and talent in the County. Specifically, the stadium lies at the heart and desire of Governor Wangamati to identify, nurture, groom, grow and promote talent in different sports fields in the County.
The stadium has produced some of Kenya’s sporting greats like Ben Jipcho (Silver Medalist in 3,000 metres in 1972), George Situma and Tom Wanjala (winners of Gossage Cup 1959), and Mary Nakhumicha (Paralympian) in Javelin.
Besides playing host to key league matches, the facility will offer a platform to identify, groom and nurture talent for the youth and all sports persons to nurture and showcase their talents. The facility will also open room for investment in the sporting industry and guarantee the County revenue which currently stands at a paltry 50,000.