After years of delay, construction work at Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri County is set to resume.
This follows a directive by resident William Ruto that the work be completed within a year.
Speaking in Nyeri on Saturday, President Ruto directed the Sports Ministry to work with the Ministry of Defence to finish work at the stadium on time.
“I have told the Sports PS that he has only one year to complete it. I have also instructed him to work with the Defence Ministry to ensure the project is delivered on time for me to come and open it next year,” he said, as local leaders and residents cheered.
:Part of the running track at Ruring’u Stadium, that was laid in 2021 in this picture taken yesterday. The stadium has been under construction since 2017.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi| Nation Media Group
The President’s visit has revived hopes of completion of the construction work that has stalled for more than seven years. Back in 2018, when he was Deputy President, Ruto had promised that construction of the stadium would be finished in a year. At the time, Ruto spoke during Dr Wahome Gakuru Memorial Half Marathon. Now, as president, he has ordered that construction work should resume immediately.
The new design for the stadium is much bigger than the original one. It will now accommodate 15,000 people, up from just 2,000. But this expansion has come with cost implications. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the budget has shot up from Sh480 million to Sh800 million.
During the tour, President Ruto was shown the stadium plans, upon which he directed the contractor to ensure the work is done to international standards.
There’s also a cultural side to the project. Officials told the President that the Kikuyu Council of Elders will be involved in rituals at the site, since some mugumo trees must be uprooted before construction continues. The mugumo tree is considered sacred in the Gikuyu community.
Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina welcomed the move, saying completion of work in the stadium will be a big boost for local teams and athletes.
“Nyeri has been losing out on hosting major competitions because they can’t be held at Ruring’u Stadium,” he explained. He added that Nyeri has more than 10 major football teams and hundreds of athletes, and the completion of work at the stadium will go a long way in helping nurture sporting talent.
Work at the stadium has been painstakingly slow. Construction work was first launched in 2017 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, with a promise to finish it in six months. But delay in funding and bureaucracy saw the work stall when the stadium was barely 40 percent complete.
The work has passed through the hands of three different contractors and has been overseen by six cabinet secretaries and three governors.
Officials who had accompanied Sports CS Salim Mvurya inspect an incomplete dais at Ruring'u Stadium in Nyeri Town during a site visit on March 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
“We’re seeing other projects like Affordable Housing going on next to the stadium, but this one is still pending. Please help us complete it,” he urged.
Sports CS Mvurya, who visited the stadium a week ago, admitted that progress had been slow but assured the public that the work will be completed.
“This project has taken too long. Seven years is too long,” President Ruto acknowledged.
President Ruto also announced that the military will work with the Sports ministry to upgrade Othaya Stadium.
A view of Ruring'u stadium in Nyeri County on April 23, 2022.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
The directive came after Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina appealed to the President to step in and support the local community stadium’s upgrade.
On Wednesday, while on his second day of his tour of the Mt Kenya region, President Ruto also announced plans to hand over the Wang’uru International Stadium to the county government.
Speaking at Kagio Trading Centre, he assured residents that all hurdles to the stadium’s completion had been cleared.
“I will be coming back to this county to hand over Wang’uru Stadium soon. I know there have been problems, but they have been sorted out,” Ruto said.
The main stand under construction at Ruring'u stadium in Nyeri County on April 23, 2022.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Work on Wang’uru International Stadium in Mwea Constituency has faced delays. Construction began in September 2020 under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, at an estimated budget of Sh300 million. Construction work started in December 2020, with the hope that it would host the 2021 Mashujaa Day celebrations, but delays pushed back its completion.
