This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
Located in Nairobi's Eastlands area, the 3,000-seater Dandora Stadium was touted as a major contribution to sports in the county by Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko. However, two years after the intended launch date, the stadium remains incomplete.
According to Godfrey Okoti, the stadium manager, the artificial turf shipped in from Europe has been exposed to the sun for a long time, which is against the recommendations. This has led to fears of contamination.
The contractor left the site in September last year after being flagged by Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) officials for allegedly using sub-standard materials in construction. More than 20 senior City Hall officials, including Sonko's personal assistant Peter Kamau Mugo, have been grilled over the stalled project.
The investigations touch on whether the contractor changed the Bill of Quantity and used steel to support the better part of the structure instead of using concrete, thereby reducing the original cost of Sh350 million by half. EACC officials have finished evaluating the facility but a report is yet to be submitted.
A spot-check by Nation Sport revealed leaking roofs rotting away in the dressing and medical rooms. There is no perimeter fence and main gate at the stadium, while patches of paint have started peeling off from the walls even before the stadium is handed over to the county government.
Okoti appeals to anyone who can help or facilitate completion of work on the stadium to come forward to ensure the facility is completed and ready for use. When completed, Dandora Stadium will be the first facility in East Africa to display electronic advertising boards.
