Implementation Committee demands action towards completion of stadiums across the country

Implementation Committee demands action towards completion of stadiums across the country

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The Committee on Implementation has called on the Ministry of Sports to expedite the completion of ongoing works in various stadiums across the country.

The Hon. Raphael Wanjala- led Committee expressed concern that the delay on the completion of the works was standing in the way of development of skills for thousands of youth who depend on the facilities for recreational purposes.

The Members were speaking when they met with various actors charged with the responsibility of implementating House recommendations contained in the Report of the Inquiry into the Status of Stadiums in Kenya.

Speedy completion of the ongoing works is a key recommendation of the report by the Departmental Committee on Sports, Culture and Tourism tabled in October, 2020.

The lawmakers who met with a team of Sports Kenya Officials led by the Ag. Director Mr. Gabriel Komora, questioned why the status of various stadiums across the country had remained the same five years on, since the House pronounced itself on the matter. 

The legislators noted that the delay had disenfranchised the youth as the facilities are unusable until they are completed and handed over. 

“Sports is a big recreational activity for the youth in the country. They unfortunately are now being denied an opportunity to develop their skills as the facilities cannot be used until they’re completed”, Bureti MP, Komingoi Kibet told Mr. Gabriel Komora, the acting Director General, Sports Kenya who represented the ministry in the meeting

The Committee made a twin resolution to invite the Sports Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary in the State Department on Sports to give a status update on the matter.

“I now direct the Committee Secretariat to invite the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to appear in person in two-weeks time to apprise this Committee on the status of all stadia across the country”, Hon. Wanjala directed. 

The Members further resolved to

Immediately undertake inspection visits to the facilities to ascertain for themselves the status of implementation of the House resolution on the matter.

At the same time, the Committee Members now want all the actors who violated procurement procedures in the development of the stadiums to be held accountable and surcharged for the loss on the tax payer.

The Committee which also received briefs from

officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Auditor General relating to various breaches of the law in the procurement process, called for expedited conclusion of any pending investigations. Paving the way for prosecutions.

The EACC wants the then Principal Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts prosecuted for the irregular award of a tender to a foreign firm at a cost of Kshs. 995mn. 

The lawmakers led by Hon. Mark Mwenje and Hon. Haro Abdul further demanded the immediate implementation of a Special Audit Report by the Office of the Auditor General on the Status of Stadiums in Kenya, tabled in the House last year.