Ongwae’s fresh pledge for Gusii Stadium

Kisii Governor James Ongwae has assured that the Gusii Stadium’s renovations will be sustained and culminate in the laying of a synthetic running track.

With neighbouring Kericho County having recently rolled out its ‘tartan’ track, Ongwae doesn’t want Kisii left behind.

Since we featured the Gusii Stadium’s renovation in this series focusing on the state of Kenya’s sports infrastructure, there have been further developments on the ground with fresh terraces sprouting.

The stadium, which was put up in the 1940s, was to host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, but the festivities were shelved due to the Covid-19 pandemic with President Uhuru Kenyatta instead making his address to the nation from State House, Nairobi.

The move has, however, allowed more time for works to continue at the Gusii Stadium which, upon completion, will have a presidential standard VIP pavilion with capacity to hold 2,000 guests besides the 10,000 spectators who will be accommodated in the new terraces.

‘Memory to my people’

“Immediately I took the mantle in 2013, I embarked on the expansion and modernisation of the stadium, Governor Ongwae said at the weekend. “In 2013, the stadium had a temporary perimeter wall, dais and two sheds with minimum capacity to host events.

“Kisii is a sporting region and I thought, as a governor, that this stadium will remain behind as a memory to my people that indeed devolution works.

“The Kisii County Government has prioritised youth talent nurturing and sports by implementing a massive expansion programme for Gusii Stadium.” 

A phased upgrade of the stadium started in 2014 with a perimeter wall and several new gates now in place. 

Lighting around the stadium has been advanced with the roads surrounding it enjoying fresh tarmac and drainage systems worked on.

An underground irrigation and drainage system has been installed to keep the football playing surface’s Kikuyu grass alive and green all year round. 

Ongwae says funds for the laying of the synthetic running track will be made available in the current financial year. 

“Gusii region has produced a number of champions in athletics, including the legendary Nyantika Maiyoro who honed his skills at the Gusii Stadium. This behooves us to establish a modern facility to nurture this talent,” the Governor maintained.

“The Gusii Stadium now has a sitting capacity of 12,000 and we are keen on improving it to meet international standards.

Injecting more revenue

“With enough spectator ablution blocks and adequate water supply system installed, the stadium is on a pedestal of rivalling established ones like the Nyayo National Stadium in hosting major events, thus injecting more revenue to the local economy besides exposing our youth to professional players who will come to play in Kisii,” the Governor envisaged.

Ongwae thanked the national government for partnering with the county in improving the stadium that plays host to legendary club Shabana FC, rugby side Kisii RFC and Gusii Starlets, the county’s leading women’s football team.

After the first phase of rehabilitation in 2018, the stadium hosted the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (Kicosca) games and last year, it hosted the Kenya Communications Sports Organisation (Kecoso) games.

Ongwae is optimistic that once complete, the stadium will host international competitions and relive the 1980s when Shabana was among Kenya’s top teams even hosting Zambia’s Kabwe Warriors in Africa’s second-tier tournament currently known as the Caf Confederation Cup.

Joseph Simba, a resident of Kisii town, says the stadium will now provide a platform for talent development, while hosting major sports events.