The proposed Sh120m Migori Stadium may well remain a pipe dream as Nation Sport understands the home county government is no longer interested in funding the project.
The stadium's development was mooted six years ago.
This is the only big sports project in the south Nyanza region that is lagging behind in terms of construction as the other three -- Gusii Stadium in Kisii, Homa Bay in Homa Bay and Manga Stadium in Nyamira have realized major developments.
Gusii Stadium is nearing completion with the 12 spectator stands, main pavilion and a playing surface with modern irrigation system already in place.
The Migori County Government was to develop the stadium, formerly owned by the defunct municipal council, to international standards but that lofty plan looks destined to gather dust on the shelve.
The county official, who did not want to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press, said the government would not construct the proposed modern stadium owing to lack of funds.
He said the Migori government had instead resolved to put up a local playing ground with a shed that could accommodate 2,000 people.
The four acres piece of land that was to accommodate the stadium only has fences to show for any construction work.
The official noted that the proposed project had encountered a lot of hitches since construction works was launched in 2014. He said Governor Okoth Obado’s administration had not listed it as a key project.
The sports docket is merged with the department of education. Most of the budgetary allocation goes to Education every financial year.
“The sports docket is usually allocated peanuts and we are not able to do any major development,” said the officer.
Hopes that the region could have a standard sports facility in the near future that could host major games were extinguished last June after the county government set aside a measly Sh10m for the project.
“In the last financial year, Sh80m had been set aside for the project but the money was reduced to Sh24m through a supplementary budget. That money was further reduced to Sh13m in April after it was resolved that some be used in fighting Covid-19,” the country official said.
The official said Sh13m was spent in erecting an inner perimeter fence while construction of a shed that can accommodate 2,000 people was underway.
A sport check by Nation Sport at the site established that a perimeter wall and inside fence had been erected and work was going on on the proposed shed.
“I cannot talk about that matter now. I need time to gather facts, something that can take a long time,” said the county’s executive for sports Samson Ngariba when reached for comment.
The first phase was to involve fencing the ground, installing underground irrigation and planting of grass.
The second phase was set to commence in 2017, but was disrupted by national elections campaigns.
It was to involve putting up of two pavilions with a capacity of 3,000 each, a seven lanes tartan track and modern changing rooms. Other planned improvements were putting up security lights and offices.
Because the project lacked space for expansion, the proposed facility was to accommodate 6,000 people.
