Tharaka-Nithi Kirubia Stadium to be ready next month

From Left: Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, Sports, Heritage and Culture Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, Tharaka-Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki, and Chuka/Igambangombe Member of Parliament Patrick Munene during an inspection tour of Kirubia Stadium on June 27, 2020. CS said the remaining work on the stadium will be complete by the end of next month so that it can be handed over to the public for use. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP




What you need to know:

  • She said the facility is a promise by President Uhuru Kenyatta to the people of Tharaka-Nithi County and her ministry is determined to ensure the pledge is honoured
  • Governor Njuki said the county government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sports Kenya stating that once the stadium is complete, the devolved government will take over its maintenance
  • She said the facility is a promise by President Uhuru Kenyatta to the people of Tharaka-Nithi County and her ministry is determined to ensure the pledge is honoured


Construction work at the Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka-Nithi County will be complete by the end of next month and the facility handed over to the public for use.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the stadium on Saturday, Sports, Heritage and Culture Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said work on the Sh247 million facility started on September 23, 2016, but stalled for almost two years messing up the renovation schedule.

She said the facility is a promise by President Uhuru Kenyatta to the people of Tharaka-Nithi County and her ministry is determined to ensure the pledge is honoured.

“All is set for completion and launch of the stadium by the end of July this year,” said Mohamed.

EXPRESSED OPTIMISM

She said other stadiums that the ministry is fast-tracking to complete in the coming few months include the Kinoru in Meru County, Ruringu in Nyeri, Kamariny in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kipchoge Keino in Uasin Gishu and Wote in Makueni.

The Cabinet Secretary was hosted by Governor Muthomi Njuki, Senator Kithure Kindiki and Chuka/ Igambang’ombe Member of Parliament Patrick Munene, who all expressed optimism that the residents will soon use the grounds to nurture sport talents. They also lauded the President for the many projects that his government has done in the region, including tarmacking of Chuka town, construction of Sh400 million county headquarters building and construction of roads.

Governor Njuki said the county government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sports Kenya stating that once the stadium is complete, the devolved government will take over its maintenance.

He exuded confidence that all the projects launched by the Jubilee Government in the county will be completed in order to serve the intended purpose.

STALLED ROAD PROJECTS

Senator Kindiki said the work that President Kenyatta's government has done for the county during his tenure is a lot compared to what had been done since independence.

He, however, urged the Ministry of Roads to ensure that several road projects that have stalled are completed.

“Work on the 30-kilometre Chuka-Kaanwa-Kareni road started seven years ago and only seven kilometres have been tarmacked meaning that if it moves with the same speed it will take 30 years,” said Kindiki.

MP Munene said the region is rich in sport talents and that the stadium will aid in developing them to higher levels.

Once complete, the Kirubia Stadium will have an international standard tartan running track, a football ground, changing rooms and a sitting capacity of 4,500.