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The government will construct a modern football stadium at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu.
Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said the national and county governments were in discussions to start the construction works.
Amina said President Uhuru Kenyatta was keen to have the facility upgraded, at Sh1 billion. It is expected to have a capacity of 30,000.
She said the Head of State wants in place an ultra-modern sports facility that can accommodate various sporting activities.
“The President has directed that the project be completed by December this year. Already, a team of public works officers and engineers are on the ground. We expect the works to start soon,” Amina said.
She said the government wants to ensure the stadiums are readily available for use by sportsmen and women in the country.
Amina said they were in the process of completing various stadiums in the country aimed at improving sporting activities.
“Most of the stadium projects are in the final stages with new ones are set to be launched,” she said on Thursday.
The renovation of Nyayo stadium, Amina said, was almost complete. Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani, was 80 per cent complete.
She said that the government was expediting renovation to ensure the facility is ready ahead of the expected international inspection.
“We are committed to making our sports facilities modern to host world events,” the CS added.
Other projects on course include Bukhungu Stadium (Kakamega), Kipchoge Stadium (Eldoret), Kiambu Stadium, Narok Stadium, Kinoru Stadium, and Marsabit Stadium.
Already, the county government is upgrading several facilities at Jomo Kenyatta Sports grounds.
Some of the facilities are ablution blocks and a modern market for small scale traders, which have been completed.
Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o said the partnership was in line with the county government’s initiative to modernise the sports grounds to international standards.
Nyong’o said President Uhuru, in particular, wants the football pitch at sports ground renovated to higher standards.
Uhuru, he said, has promised to give money for the project and wants the pitch ready by December. The upgrade, Nyong'o said, will help supports local football talent in Kisumu.
He noted that plans to upgrade Moi Stadium were still on course. Nyong’o said they will renovate the stadium at an estimated cost of Sh1 billion.