This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
On August 7, 2019, Bernard Rotich and Vitalis Kimutai visited the Kapkatet Stadium in Kericho County, a project of the national government, and found it in a state of disrepair.
The stadium, which was constructed between 2015 and 2017 by the National Youth Service (NYS) at a cost of Sh200 million, has a perimeter wall as its only notable feature. The football pitch is overgrown with grass, and the pit latrines meant to serve the public have broken doors.
Locals have been using the stadium for training, but athletes from surrounding areas are hesitant to train there due to the uneven surface, which poses a risk of career-threatening injuries.
Residents have raised concerns about the project, citing theft, thuggery, and rape by NYS staff who undertook the project. The contractor also cut down and sold hundreds of indigenous trees that had formed a canopy around the stadium, which were valued by the community for their historical and cultural significance.
‘It is essential for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Auditor General to audit how tax payers’ money was spent on the project,’ said Samwel Koros, a resident.
Construction of the stadium was not done to international standards, with the contractor only constructing the wall and levelling parts of the field. The only entrance to the stadium is a small gate, and during political rallies and sporting activities, motor vehicle owners struggle to get in and out, and no parking space is provided.
