Main dais at Bomet IAAF Stadium where construction work has stalled.
Construction of a new stadium funded by the government has started in Bomet County at a cost of Sh950 million.
Construction work at Kipchamba Stadium at Kipranye village in the outskirts of Bomet town will be finished within in nine months.
However, it throws in disarray completion of the stalled 30,000-seater Bomet IAAF Stadium on which Bomet County government has sunk more than Sh300 million.
The main terrace at Bomet IAAF Stadium.
On January 15, 2023, President William Ruto directed the Department of Sports to take over Bomet IAAF Stadium and complete construction work at the facility within one year.
The directive was however not implemented and on February 4, 2026, President Ruto handed over the facility to Bomet University when he issued a charter to the institution of higher learning at a function in State House, Nairobi.
On Thursday, Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, his Sports counterpart Elijah Mwangi, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot presided over the ground-breaking ceremony for Kipchamba Stadium.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will supervise construction work on the project being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the same firm constructing Talanta Stadium in Nairobi.
When complete, Kenyan league team APS Bomet FC will use the stadium as home ground. The team currently hosts its matches at Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho County, and at Gusii Stadium in neighbouring Kisii County.
“Kipchamba Stadium is a 10,000-seater sports facility which will be constructed to international standards. It will have VIP and VVIP dais, an eight-lane athletics track, changing rooms, toilets, bathrooms, a kitchen, football pitch, as well as facilities for netball, and basketball,” PS Mariru said.
The government, he stated, was constructing a number of stadiums countrywide under the supervision of KDF and whose implementation is in various stages.
“The KDF is supervising construction of 27 stadiums to national and international standards,” Mariru stated.
Mwangi said the stadiums under construction will enable youth from the area to showcase their talent.
“The government is keen on appreciating sporting talent, and the President has directed that gold medal winners be rewarded with Sh3 million, and an additional Sh5 million for those who break the world record,” Mwangi said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said “The government is constructing stadiums in the Bomet, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana among others so as to provide a conducive environment for developing talent among the youth.”
Governor Barchok stated that the county had purchased the land on which the stadium was being constructed. Barchok said that apart from being a home ground for APs Bomet FC, the stadium will be the training ground for athletes in the region
An artist's impression of the Kipchamba Stadium in Bomet which is being constructed at a cost of Sh950 million.
On Wednesday, President Ruto announced that Bomet University will take over parcel of land on which Bomet IAAF Stadium was constructed. The construction work was started by the administration of first governor of Bomet Isaac Ruto.
The project was however abandoned by Governor Ruto’s successors – the late Joyce Laboso and Hillary Barchok who starved it of funding.
“I have discussed with the County Government of Bomet and we have agreed that there is a parcel of land available somewhere else,” President Ruto said on Wednesday at State House, Nairobi.
“Let us start there as we try to expand the facilities available for the university, that is, if it is okay for the community in Bomet. Let this university become a centre of solutions, solving real problems and creating real opportunities for the citizens,” President Ruto said.
President Ruto’s comments followed an appeal by the university through the Council chairperson John Shiundu in the company of Vice Chancellor Charles Mutai during the award of a Charter to Bomet University College at State House, Nairobi.
For a long time, there has been a tussle over ownership of Bomet IAAF Stadium between the university and the county government on as to who owns the parcel of land on which the stadium stands.
The county is understood to own a large portion of the land in which the stadium stands while the university owns a smaller part. Both will now be amalgamated and handed over to the university.
“Construction of the stadium was informed by the need to harness talents among the youths in the area who have shown their prowess in ball games and athletics,” former Governor Isaac Ruto said in a recent interview.
Notable athletes from the area include William Sigei, the 1993 and 1994 10,000 metres world champion, Beatrice Chepkoech the 3,000 metres steeplechase world record holder, 3,000m steeplechase runner Paul Kipsiele Koech, former world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, and former Olympics 5000m medallist Mercy Cherono.
Michael Bongei, a strategic management expert, said construction of a new stadium as directed by the President would go a long way in promoting talent development among youth in the region.
“Bomet county is teeming with raw talents in almost all sports spheres – athletics, football, netball, volleyball and a number of indoor games – that needs to be harnessed to create employment opportunities for the youth,” Bongei told Nation Sport.
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