Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has officially launched the construction of the Sh415 million Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu.
Kenyatta assured the youth his government will come good on their campaign promise to improve sporting infrastructure across the nation.
The President said he is determined to have stadiums built in all the regions to help young talents across the country realize their full potential.
Accompanied by opposition leader Raila Odinga, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, Kenyatta further assured that the renovations will be complete in six months.
“I am here with my brother Raila (Odinga) to lay the foundation stone. The contractor has assured me that the venue will be ready in April (next year). So we will come back to open it with a football match involving Gor Mahia and our brothers from Ingoo (AFC Leopards). I am asking Lusaka to go and prepare his team,” said Kenyatta, amid cheers from the crowd.
“It is my wish to see the youth playing internationally for teams like Liverpool and Manchester. We are building these international facilities and you should also work hard to ensure that happens,” said Uhuru.
“We had planned to build this stadium at the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground but were informed the venue is not adequate. So we have shifted the project here. We have talked to your governor and he has agreed to support this project,” he added.
After its completion, the venue will be able to host 30,000 spectators join the Moi Stadium in Kisumu as a ground capable of hosting international and Kenyan Premier League matches.