This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto's promise to build nine stadia across the country has stalled due to budget cuts. The pledge was made in the run-up to the 2013 and 2017 General Elections.
According to documents by Sports Kenya, the National Treasury has made major budget cuts in the last four financial years, frustrating the ambitious pledge. Several contractors have abandoned the sites over pending bills, putting millions of taxpayers' money at risk of being wasted.
Claims of State officers colluding with some contractors to swindle the little money already released have also emerged. In a shocking revelation, members of the National Assembly Sports Committee were told that a firm had been paid Sh88 million for clearing bushes for the construction of Marsabit Stadium.
Speaking to the MPs, Sports Kenya Director General Pius Metto revealed that the agency has suffered budget cuts since the 2016/17 financial year. In 2016/17, Parliament approved Sh2.7 billion for the construction works, but only Sh425 million was released by the National Treasury.
For the 2017/18 financial year, the agency received a paltry Sh25 million, down from the allocated Sh100 million. In the current financial year, the agency has received zero shillings despite being allocated Sh500 million.
At the inception of the procurement process in 2016/17, the proposed budget was Sh2,735,000,000, but this was later rationalised to Sh424,813,522. In 2017/18, Sports Kenya suffered a budget cut from an allocation of Sh100,000,000 to Sh25,000.
Uhuru and Ruto had promised to build nine stadia, including Kipchoge Keino in Uasin Gishu, Kamariny in Elgeyo Marakwet, Wote in Makueni, Marsabit in Marsabit, Ruring'u in Nyeri, Kirubia in Chuka-Tharaka Nithi, and Karatu in Kiambu. The agency had also prioritised upgrading Nyayo National Stadium, Kinoru, Kasarani, and Kipchoge Keino (Phase II) in preparations for the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan 2018).
