New Sh950 Million Stadium Project Begins in Bomet as Sh300 Million Facility is Abandoned

Construction has commenced on a new Sh950 million stadium in Bomet County, a project expected to be completed within nine months.

However, this new development casts a shadow over the fate of the stalled Bomet IAAF Stadium, a 30,000-seater facility where the county government has already invested over Sh300 million.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Kipchamba Stadium, located in Kipranye village, took place on Thursday. The event was attended by Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.

On January 15, 2023, President William Ruto had instructed the Department of Sports to take over and complete the stalled facility within a year.

This directive was never implemented. Instead, on February 4, 2024, the President handed the stadium over to Bomet University during its charter award ceremony at State House, Nairobi.

The new Kipchamba Stadium will be constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the same company building the Talanta Stadium in Nairobi, with supervision from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

“Kipchamba Stadium is a 10,000-seater sports facility which will be constructed to international standards," PS Mariru announced, as quoted by Nation Sport.

"It will have VIP and VVIP daises, an eight-lane athletics track, changing rooms, toilets, bathrooms, a kitchen, a football pitch, as well as facilities for netball and basketball.”

Mariru added that the KDF is overseeing the construction of 27 stadiums across the country to meet both national and international standards.

Once completed, Kipchamba Stadium will serve as the home ground for local league team APS Bomet FC, which currently plays its home matches at Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho and Gusii Stadium in Kisii.

Governor Barchok confirmed that the county had purchased the land for the new stadium, envisioning it as a key training ground for regional athletes and a home for APS Bomet FC.

The decision to abandon the Bomet IAAF Stadium project was solidified by President Ruto's announcement on Wednesday. The stadium, initiated by former Governor Isaac Ruto, was neglected by his successors, the late Joyce Laboso and current Governor Hillary Barchok, who withheld funding.

“I have discussed with the County Government of Bomet and we have agreed that there is a parcel of land available somewhere else,” President Ruto stated at State House.

“Let us start there as we try to expand the facilities available for the university... Let this university become a centre of solutions, solving real problems and creating real opportunities for the citizens.”

The President's remarks came after an appeal from the university's leadership, resolving a long-standing ownership dispute over the land where the Bomet IAAF Stadium is located, which was partially owned by both the county and the university.

The construction of a new stadium in Bomet, as directed by the President, is expected to significantly enhance talent development for the region's youth, according to strategic management expert Michael Bongei.

Bomet County has a rich history of producing world-class athletes. Notable figures from the area include William Sigei, the 1993 and 1994 10,000-meter world champion, and Beatrice Chepkoech, the current world record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Other prominent athletes include 3,000m steeplechase runner Paul Kipsiele Koech, former 1500m world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, and former Olympic 5000m medalist Mercy Cherono.