Mandago runs after growing athletics market

Governor Jackson Mandago will repair stadiums in Eldoret to attract investors to the North rift.

The rehabilitation is part of efforts to woo businesses from various sectors to one of the country’s bread baskets.

Kipchoge Keino and 64 stadiums will be repaired so they can qualify to host international competitions.

The county is known for producing world beating athletes including Moses Tanui, Ezekiel Kemboi and Kipchoge Keino to name just a few. This has made it earn the title “Home of Champions”.

The athletes have also invested heavily in the town.

According to Mr Mandago, Kipchoge Keino stadium will hold 13,000 people when it is completed by August.

The county government will charge Sh1 million to host competitions at the two stadiums.

“We are projecting that this stadium (Kipchoge) will be the first to host regional and international events. We want our people to reap fully from their rich athletic talent,” Mr Mandago told the Nation in his office.

LAND GRABBING

He said his government had also set its eyes on expanding infrastructure in the county. The Eldoret bypass, which will decongest the town, is already under construction.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

However, efforts to build infrastructure have ran into headwinds due to grabbing of land meant for the developments.

Mr Mandago has since issued a notice to those who have encroached on road reserves and other public utilities in the area to move or their buildings will be demolished.

“The law is clear on use of public utilities such as road reserves and those occupying them should move immediately. They should not even waste their money by moving to court because they will be wasting their time,” said Mr Mandago when he inspected the construction of the Sh900 million Eldoret Town-Kapsoya road.

The county government, in its 2014-2015 financial year budget, has set aside Sh50 million for bridges and another Sh10 million for fish hatcheries.

Mr Mandago said the county government was working with the University of Eldoret to produce fingerlings to boost the fish industry.

To cope with emergencies, Mr Mandago said the county government  had set aside Sh3 million to train 6,000 technicians who will respond to disasters.

He said the county was in the process of automating health centres to fast-track services to wananchi.

To diversify farming, the county government recently secured a passion fruit supply tender in Namibia.