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| CS Ababu blames the previous govt on substandard stadiums |
A faction within Kenya Kwanza’s governmental leadership has been pointing fingers at former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, attributing underperformance to their tenure. CS Ababu Namwamba (l) and Uhuru Kenyatta (r) at past events. Namwamba has pointed fingers at Uhuru for the lack of good stadiums in Kenya. Joining this chorus is Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, who has openly expressed dissatisfaction with the state of sports facilities across the nation. Why is Ababu pointing fingers at Uhuru? Namwamba, who was speaking at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega on Saturday, May 25, highlighted a concerning trend of neglect spanning over decades, during which these facilities have seen minimal investment, as reported by K24.”For a long time, Kenya neglected sports facilities. There has been no serious investment. Nyanyo and Kasarani stadiums were neglected for many years, and even attempts to build new ones were just a joke,” he said. Specifically, Namwamba draws attention to the inadequate condition of the Jomo Kenyatta Grounds stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu and the Kirigiti International stadia in Kiambu. He emphasises that the stadiums fall short of meeting FIFA’s standards necessary to be classified as international venues. “We call Jomo Kenyatta Grounds Mamboleo in Kisumu and Kirigiti stadiums international because of the name international. When we remove the names, there is nothing international in them. You now have a government and a sports secretary who is fixing that long-term neglect,” added Namwamba. This critique underscores a broader concern regarding the lack of infrastructural development in the sporting sector, raising questions about the nation’s commitment to fostering excellence. According to the CS, Harambee Stars would be forced to play home games in Burundi due to the closure of Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums for revamping.
by Nancy Odindo