After more than 20 years of stalled construction of Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret town is expected to resume and completed in 15 months, a parliamentary committee on sports has given the assurance.

The National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture, which inspected the stadium on Friday, gave the constructor strict timelines to conclude the work.

Led by committee chair, who is also Webuye West Member of Parliament Dan Wanyama, the team was appraised of the construction progress besides assessing reports on expenditures and construction of sports project funded by the national government.

“We are here to inspect the ongoing works in this stadium towards Kenya’s preparation for the August 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON),” Wanyama said.

He revealed that the whole project would cost approximately Ksh3.5 billion ($27 million), with a down payment of Sh300 million having been wired to the contractor.

Additionally, Wanyama assured members of the public that the remaining works must be completed and delivered on time since allocation of construction funds for the stadium has been made. He put the contractor on notice that the timelines for the completion, which is 15 months, must be met.

The sports committee chair expressed disappointment over delays and slow pace of the work by the contractor.

Sports Kenya Acting Director General Gabriel Komora said the stadium has been identified as one of the venues to host AFCON and CHAN and that the current scope of works involves enhancing the status of the stadium to category 3.

The scope of work involves increasing the capacity to accommodate about 16000 fans, elevating technical and aesthetics of thee stadium, installing a canopy, fixed seats, completing the VIP area by extending up skyboxes.

Komora assured that the contractor will be on site once the 20 per cent down payment they requested is made by the Sports Fund, noting that the sports facility will be ready in 15 months.

The MPs present Janet Sitienei (Turbo), Jackson Kosgei (nominated), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), Catherine Omanyo (Busia Woman Representative), Basil Robert (Yatta), Wamacukuru Githua (Kabete), representation from Sports Kenya and the Ministry of Defence.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / Fredrick Maritim and Ekuwam Sylvester