Construction of the US $3.2m Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu is set to be completed next month. According to Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa there is satisfactory progress on the project. “After inspecting the ongoing works, I am convinced that the project is on track and the contractor has assured me that the facility will be ready by the end of next month,” he said.
He further added that the 30,000-capacity stadium will help nurture talents of youth in Western Kenya. “Completion will enable the county to showcase the state-of-the-art stadium, which is expected to be the conference venue for the upcoming Africities summit in November this year,” said the CS while at Mamboleo ASK Showground.
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Africities
The Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium is expected to host
Africities, a United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s flagship Pan-African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa; later in the year. According to the CS, this platform will not only place Kisumu on the world map, but also grow the entire Lake Region Economic Bloc and Kenya at large “Kisumu will become the first intermediary city to host the Africities, which is expected to be attended by more than 10,000 delegates during the ninth edition of Africities,” he said.
The county government also plans to construct the 63km Kisumu-Mamboleo-Chemelil-Muhoroni road and the stretch leading to the facility ahead of the continental summit. Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, who accompanied Mr. Wamalwa, reiterated the county’s commitment to partner with the national government in fast-tracking the completion of key projects ahead of the summit. “We are certain that hotels and accommodation facilities in the county ranging from two to five star are able to accommodate more than 10,000 people,” he said.
