Audit Shocker: Kasarani Stadium Lacks Title Deed as MPs Demand Answers
MPs were left stunned after an audit revealed that Sports Kenya, the agency in charge of sports facilities, does not have a title deed for the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, one of the country’s most famous stadiums.
This was revealed during a session of the National Assembly’s Public Investment Committee on Social Services (PIC-SSAA) where Sports Kenya officials were being grilled over billions of shillings lost in abandoned or incomplete projects.
According to the audit report, Sports Kenya admitted that they are still pursuing ownership documents for the over 200-acre Kasarani land through the National Land Commission. This raised concerns among the legislators who asked how a critical facility could be without proper documentation decades after its construction.
The committee chaired by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi was further shocked to learn that the government spent millions of shillings on consultancy fees for three proposed national stadiums in Nairobi, Kisumu and Eldoret. Despite Ksh99.6 million spent on feasibility studies and Ksh57 million on architectural and project management services, the Ksh42 billion projects never moved beyond the planning stage.
“No project has ever broken ground yet taxpayers’ money has already been spent. How can funds be allocated for stadiums without securing the land first?” asked the MPs as they pressed Sports Kenya’s Acting Director General Gabriel Komora and his team for answers.
The audit queries which date back to 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 financial years revealed more irregularities in stadium construction budgets. The Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret which was initially contracted at Ksh109.7 million ballooned to Ksh355.1 million, a 200% cost escalation. MPs demanded documents explaining a new Ksh3.5 billion rehabilitation contract for the same facility.
Other questionable expenditures also came under the spotlight including a Ksh24.4 million payment to a Moscow football club.
The MPs warned that unless urgent action is taken, the stalled projects under the Sports Act 2013 and Vision 2030 will turn into white elephants and cost taxpayers billions of shillings.
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Audit Shocker: Kasarani Stadium Lacks Title Deed as MPs Demand Answers