Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has provided a progress update on the long-delayed Wote Stadium project in Makueni County, a facility that President William Ruto, then serving as Deputy President, had promised to deliver back in 2017.
Mvurya reported that the stadium is now 70% complete and work is steadily moving forward.
While appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, July 23, Mvurya stated that the first phase of the construction had already been finalized at a cost of Ksh299 million.
He emphasized that both the national government and the Makueni County Government are currently working hand-in-hand to ensure the remaining construction phases are completed efficiently and without further delays.
The project dates back to 2017 when Ruto, then Deputy President, launched the construction during a public rally. At the time, he promised that the state-of-the-art stadium would be ready within six months, aligning with the Jubilee government’s pledge to develop international-standard sports infrastructure across the country.
Wote Stadium was among the key stadiums included in the Jubilee manifesto leading up to the 2017 General Election. Once completed, it is expected to hold up to 20,000 spectators and meet the standards required to host national and international athletics and football events.
However, what started as a bold promise soon turned into a source of public frustration. The project stalled for years, leaving many locals convinced that the stadium would never materialize. Residents voiced their disappointment, fearing the ambitious project was nothing more than a broken campaign promise.
Addressing these concerns, CS Mvurya clarified that the delays stemmed from multiple setbacks. One of the main issues was a change in the original construction site by the Makueni County Government, which significantly disrupted the initial timeline.
The new location also came with tough terrain challenges that required additional engineering work to stabilize the ground before construction could continue.
Adding to the complications, the project was not allocated funds during the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial years. This caused delays in paying both contractors and consultants, further stalling progress.
There were also contractual complications after the original contractor was ordered to vacate the site, creating management and planning issues.
The completion deadline has now been pushed multiple times—from the original target of June 2018 to revised dates including October 2020, February 2022, February 2024, January 2025, and the most recent target, September 2025.
Despite the numerous delays, CS Mvurya assured the Senate that the Ministry of Sports is fully committed to delivering the stadium. He outlined the outstanding tasks that must be completed, including laying the athletics track, building players’ changing rooms, and constructing public ablution blocks.
Other critical works in progress include erecting the perimeter wall, installing gates, drilling a borehole, setting up an irrigation system, and building a pump house.
Because of the challenging terrain at the new site, the ministry is now reviewing the scope of the project with plans to upgrade the stadium into a fully functional sports training facility. The revamped facility will include a football pitch, athletics track, modern changing rooms for players, and public washrooms.
CS Mvurya concluded by saying that the government aims to complete all the remaining construction work by December 2025, finally turning the long-promised Wote Stadium into a reality for Makueni residents and sports lovers across Kenya.
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