CS Ababu Blames Uhuru's Regime For Substandard Kenyan Stadiums: "There Were No Serious Investments"

• Sports CS Ababu Namwamba said the Kenya Kwanza government is now concerned with fixing the long-term neglect of sports facilities
• He said Jomo Kenyatta Grounds and Kirigiti stadiums are only called international but do not meet FIFA standards
• Meanwhile, Harambee Stars would be playing their home games in Burundi because of the closure of Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums for renovation

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

A faction within Kenya Kwanza's governmental leadership has been pointing fingers at former president Uhuru Kenyatta's administration, attributing underperformance to his tenure.

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 Namwamba 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 poor condition of the Jomo Kenyatta Grounds stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu and the Kirigiti International Stadium 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.

Kipchumba Murkomen praises Ababu Namwamba

In February, Transport and Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen praised Namwamba for loving his job and showing commitment to changing the sporting industry.

Murkomen said Namwamba was among the hardworking CSs in President William Ruto's administration.

On the contrary, he faulted the education ministry for denying athletes papers to work in government due to a lack of academic papers.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke