This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
October 5, 2019, marked a day when the Kidundu Stadium in Vihiga County was supposed to be a hub of sporting activities. However, the stadium remains unfinished, with a Sh10 million perimeter wall left incomplete and no changing rooms, toilets, or water facilities.
The stadium's woes began during the first term of devolution when Moses Akaranga was the governor of Vihiga. The incomplete perimeter wall was erected during that period, and despite assurances from the current county administration, no works have been done on the stadium.
According to the county's development records for 2018/19, Touchline Solutions was awarded the tender of developing the stadium at a cost of Sh5.1 million. Out of this cash, the contractor has been paid Sh2.4 million while a payment of Sh2.7 million is listed among the pending bills under the Sports department.
The county administration had factored Sh15 million in the 2017/2019 supplementary budget for acquiring more land for expansion of the stadium. However, that has not yielded fruit. No expansion has been done at the stadium for close to three years later.
The stadium has never hosted any major sporting event except the National Miss Tourism competition in 2016, inauguration ceremonies, and most recently an inter-denominational prayer service-cum fundraiser for eight churches presided over by Deputy President William Ruto.
Former Governor Akaranga, former Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu, and politician Wilberforce Kitiezo have now sought the intervention of the national government to complete the stalled stadium.
Akaranga said the stadium is of great importance to residents, appealing to the Deputy President to step in and help. Chanzu said, "Kidundu is our stadium. We have tried to construct it and this is where we have reached." Kitiezo added that most of the youth in the area need the stadium to grow their talent as well as keep themselves busy and active through sporting activities.
