The City Stadium is set to undergo an upgrade that will cost the Nairobi County Government Sh1 billion.
This is part of the 1.05 billion that has been set aside for sport and recreational facilities as contained in the Nairobi County Annual Development Plan for the financial year ending June 30, 2023.
“At a cost of Sh1 billion City Stadium will have a new look and attractive stadium which will be fitted with modern equipment, “ reads the plan.
Last October, City hall announced it will work with the national government to speed up its renovation in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive for a collaborative effort between the two levels of government to upgrade major sports facilities in the country.
Back in 2016, the stadium had been shut down by the Stadia Safety and Security Committee for not meeting the minimum standards hence unable to host league matches.
Due to poor maintenance, the artificial turf which covered the main grounds was worn out and there was no running water hence the washrooms and dressing places were in a pathetic state.
Three years later in September, City Hall started work to rehabilitate the historic stadium but stalled for reasons not known.
It is said 65 per cent of phase one was completed which includes, gridding and plastering of the main sitting terraces, construction of two ablution blocks and fitting them with basic utilities, renovation of VIP lounge fitting with sanitary rooms and kitchen, renovation of the two dressing rooms and fitting them with furniture.
At that time, Nairobi county had four Stadiums; Moi International Sports Centre, Nyayo National Stadium, City Stadium and the Ruaraka Stadium.
However, City Hall announced plans to construct four new state-of-the-art stadia aiming to address the need for more sports and recreational facilities for the youth in the county.
The new stadia were to be built as per Fifa standards and will be located in Dandora, Jacaranda grounds, Kariokor and Kihumbini.
So far, work has commenced only at Dandora ad Kihumbini.
At the same, ADP for FY 2022-23 has allocated Sh50 million for the completion of Dandora Stadium.
Last year in October, concerns had been raised over the stalled Sh350 million Dandora Stadium despite the contractor having been paid.
The stadium should have been completed in July last year, but work stopped when it was 80 per cent done.
The contractor, M/s Scanjet Construction Limited, left the site in September 2019.
The stadium was to be unveiled in July last year but the plan ran into headwinds when the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opened investigations into the tendering process and irregular payment of Sh196 million for the project.
This is after the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) flagged irregularities in the awarding of the tender, alteration of contract specifications, suspected irregular payments and forgery of documents while also questioning the standard of the work.
Construction work at the stadium was stopped with the contractor leaving the site in September 2019 with 80 per cent of the work completed.
In February this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that construction works at the Sh350 million stadium resume amidst investigations by EACC.
However, the stadium still remains the same with works stalled.
July this year, Dandora residents vowed to start using the stadium, protesting delays in completing the Sh350 million project.
Already, more than 3,000 seats had been installed in the terraces with changing rooms and floodlights fitted.
Edited by D Tarus