Contractor given 20 days to finish work at Sh900m Kinoru Stadium

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has ordered the contractor rehabilitating the Sh900 million Kinoru Stadium in Meru to “work day and night” and ensure the work is completed by July 15.

The CS said President Uhuru Kenyatta was keen on officially opening the stadium by the end of July and thus wanted the works completed before then.

Amina also instructed Meru County Commissioner Allan Machari to supervise the work at the 25,000-seater facility and furnish her and Governor Kiraitu Murungi with a daily progress report.

Speaking when she toured the stadium on Friday, Amina said this was “the most expensive stadium project that the government was undertaking,” and was keen to have the venue opened for use.

She said the fact that the contractor had been paid all his money, and that she was touring the facility two weeks after Sports Chief Administrative Secretary Hassan Noor Hassan made a similar visit, underlined the importance they placed on the project.

Amina, who was accompanied by Murungi, CAS Hassan and other officials, said they were tired of the slow progress at the stadium and demanded that there be no further “back and forth” in the push for completion.

“By the end of July, we are launching the project and there are events that are scheduled to take place here. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you complete the work. By July 15, I want you to hand over to me. It should be completed.

“We have been going back and forth for a while. I want it done to the highest standards possible.

“If you need to work like we have done with Kasarani and Nyayo, 24 hours a day. You will need to do that so that you don’t rest until you are done,” she said sternly.

The contractors, Toddy Construction Company, said they had completed “87 percent” of the work but needed up to the end of July to hand over the stadium.

James Muya, an official of the construction company, said they had mobilized other sub-contractors to do civil and electrical engineering and they handled finishes that required a high level of accuracy and needed more time.

But Amina and Sports Kenya Director Pius Metto stood their ground and insisted on the time-line, asking the contractor to bring in more personnel.

Murungi also asked for extension of the roofing since rain water was draining on the wall of the stadium, thus damaging it.

He also asked for watering of the grass since the contractor had not erected the right turf.

The stadium was among the venues that had been selected to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) matches before Kenya was stripped of the rights to host the premier tournament.

When complete, the stadium will have a tartan running track, grass would be planted on the pitch and will also have numbered seats, VIP lounge, offices and changing rooms.

The venue already has a water irrigation system, a borehole and modern ablution blocks.