Work on Ruring’u to start despite ownership tussle

Ruring'u Stadium in Nyeri County. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |

What you need to know:

  • Work on development of Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri is set to start after the Agricultural Society of Kenya and the county government agreed on an out of court settlement over a decade-long land ownership dispute.
  • Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario speaking at the stadium on Wednesday evening said its construction will begin immediately with the contractor is expected to set up camp on Friday.
  • Ownership of the land on which the stadium stands has been disputed by ASK and the Nyeri County.

Work on development of Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri is set to start after the Agricultural Society of Kenya and the county government agreed on an out of court settlement over a decade-long land ownership dispute.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario speaking at the stadium on Wednesday evening said its construction will begin immediately with the contractor is expected to set up camp on Friday.

Ownership of the land on which the stadium stands has been disputed by ASK and the Nyeri County.

The defunct Nyeri Municipal Council asked ASK to move to new grounds in Kabiruini ground.

ASK, however, declined to surrender Ruring’u stadium to the local government until they were issued with a title deed for the Kabiruini grounds.

The society subsequently filed a case in court and acquired orders to stop planned development of Ruring’u Stadium.

The orders were extended on Wednesday by Lady Justice Lucy Waithaka of Nyeri Lands and Environment Court to July 19. ASK argues that they are the legitimate owners of the land and the devolved government together with Sports Kenya did not consult them on the renovation plans.

Another dispute is on who will be the owner of the redeveloped stadium with the CS saying that it will be a national government asset, an assertion the Nyeri County government has objected to.

Nyeri County lawyer Humphrey Munyange accused Sports Kenya of attempting to undermine the local government.