Kenya to Invest Sh800 Million in International Stadium Ahead of Mashujaa Day Celebrations in Kitui

Kitui, The Gulf Observer: The Kenyan government is set to inject Sh800 million over the next six months to transform the Ithookwe showground, located on the outskirts of Kitui town, into a state-of-the-art international stadium. The development comes ahead of this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for October 20, which will be graced by President William Ruto.

Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya made the announcement during an inspection tour of the site, which has traditionally hosted the Kitui County Agricultural Show. He was accompanied by Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe, who led the site visit.

“This stadium will have a capacity of 10,000 people. We are constructing it to international standards,” said CS Mvurya, adding that the government is working under tight timelines to ensure completion before the national event.

The CS noted that the tender for construction will be advertised by Tuesday next week, with work set to continue until early October. “We have a deadline; we have the function here by October 20. Therefore, we have to complete the stadium before Mashujaa Day. So, around October 10, we should be asking the contractor to hand over the finished project,” he said.

Mvurya emphasized that the stadium project is not just for the Mashujaa Day event but is part of a long-term vision to enhance sporting infrastructure in the country. “We will fashion it such that it will have a canopy all round. It has to satisfactorily meet the desired expectation. After the Mashujaa Day event, other crucial sporting facilities will be added to make it suitable for sports like soccer and athletics,” he added.

Concerns had been raised over the timing of construction and its potential impact on the Kitui Agricultural Show, typically held in July. However, Governor Malombe assured the public that alternative venues were being considered. “We have a myriad of options. There are other places where we can hold the show. We can even still hold it at the Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Kanyonyoo, where we have plenty of space,” he said.

Malombe expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for choosing Kitui as the host county for this year’s national celebration. “In my capacity as the governor of Kitui, I would like to thank President William Ruto for accepting to hold the sherehe here. We are really grateful,” he remarked.

The transformation of the Ithookwe showground into an international stadium is expected to leave a lasting legacy for the region, serving not only as a venue for national events but also as a hub for local sports and community engagement.