Embu MCAs concerned by stadium standards

The Youth and Sports committee of the Embu County Assembly has recommended that the construction of sports facilities be guided by internationally approved standards.

This, according to the committee, would avoid the wastage of public funds and would also ensure quality.

The committee had expressed concern over the upgrading of Moi Stadium without approval from the Stadia Management Board and cautioned that the project may prove impractical in the long run if proper consultations are not done.

Chairperson Shunnem Ngira observed that an advisory from the Board that directed counties to make use of the free Bills of Quantities (BQs) and recommended structural designs was ignored in the upgrading work on Embu's main stadium.

Speaking at the Assembly after the conclusion of a benchmarking tour of other stadiums in various counties, Ms Ngira said the county government ought to have engaged a consultant in sports arena construction.

She claimed that the renovation tender was awarded to a roads contractor who may lack the knowledge of what is required in the upgrading of sports facilities.

BELOW STANDARD

The committee acknowledged the need to have standard playgrounds in Embu, and at least one stadium that can host local football league matches, rugby tournaments and athletics competitions.

Ms Ngira, however, called for caution to avoid spending millions of shillings on grounds that would be unusable for competitive sports.

The committee had visited Sher Stadium in Naivasha, Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium, Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Mumias Sports, Moi Stadium in Kisumu and the Kericho Green Stadium.

They also toured Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, City Stadium and Machakos Stadium to establish the acceptable standards and their cost.

Ms Ngira said the on-going work at the Embu stadium was way below the standards of most other sports grounds but seemed to cost the taxpayer more. She said a comprehensive report of the benchmarking tour would soon be tabled in the Assembly with the necessary recommendations.

She said her committee was ready to share its finding with Youth Empowerment and Sports county executive committee member Emily Njuki and other stakeholders to work out how to ensure a more professional sports complex is constructed.