The Senate’s Public Accounts Committee on Monday, October 28 have expressed their dissatisfaction in Kenya’s preparedness to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in 2027. 

This played out when the Senator Moses Kajwang-led committee grilled Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, to assess the progress of two stadia in Eldoret City that were earmarked to host the football jamboree.

While the Kipchoge Keino Stadium, which was handed over to the Kenya Defense Forces to carry out the renovation and upgrading works in a speedy manner in readiness for the AFCON 2027, the 64 Stadium, located in the same city of Eldoret was also earmarked as one of the training facilities during Africa’s biggest football tournament.

Appearing before the committee, Governor Bii was at pains explaining the progress of 64 Stadium, which is lagging behind schedule.

According to the county boss, 64 Stadium, a project that was worth KSh1.1 billion, is 68% complete, but the senators were having none of that.

The senators could not fathom why the stadium was still under construction, yet the plan was for the facility to be complete by 2023.

The county officials accompanying Governor Bii told the committee that the devolved unit had already pumped KSh600 million into the project that was partially funded by the World Bank.

During the session, it was revealed that the Uasin Gishu had been pumping KSh100 million annually towards the construction of 64 Stadium, something that the senators found amiss.

Nonetheless, Governor Bii told the senators that his administration had earmarked KSh300 million for the stadium in the next financial year.