President William Ruto has promised to push for the construction of a modern stadium in Nairobi to help deal with the issue of alcoholism and drug abuse especially in the Eastlands area.

Speaking in Soweto, Embakasi East, where he attended a church service on Sunday, November 17, 2024, Ruto told the congregants that his administration is exploring ways to set up a modern sports facility in the area in government land.

The Head of State stated that the said piece of land has been earmarked for various government projects including building a nursery, primary, second and a TVET institution.

He added that if the land proves to be big enough, then the affordable Housing project and a stadium would also included.

The president informed the locals that he had already instructed Principal Secretary of the State Department for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga to start working on the project.

“Viongozi wa hapa pia wamenieleza kwamba kuna matatizo kidogo hapa ya masomo. Ndio nimesema ile shamba ambayo iko hapa ya serikali vile Sakaja amesema, hapa Jacaranda, hio shamba nitawajengea shule.

“Shule ya chekechea, primary, secondary na ardhi ikitosha tutajenga pia na TVET na ikiwezekana tuongeze affordable housing ndio hata watu wa sehemu hii waweze kujipanga nayo.

“Na pia tuweke apo stadium ya hawa vijana. Badala ya watu kuhangaika na mambo ya madawa wawe na mahali ambapo wanaeza kucheza, modern stadium. Tayari nimeita PS mwenye atasimamia hio kazi.”

(Leaders here have told me that is a problem, especially in the education sector. That is why I have said that the government land here, the one Sakaja has mentioned, here in Jacaranda, I will use it to build a school.

“I will build a nursery, primary and secondary school and if the land if enough we will also build a TVET institution and the Affordable Housing project to help the locals),” Ruto stated.

“(Also, we will put up a stadium for these youth. Instead of struggling with the issue of drug abuse, it is better they have a place to play, a modern stadium. I have already called PS Hinga who would supervise that work),” he added.

Encounter bad road

At the same time, Ruto told the congregants that his motorcade had a hard time manoeuvring through a bad road network in the area.

While alluding to the biblical analogy of heaven’s road, Ruto however promised to fix the road by January 2025.

“I have already called the person who will work on that road. This Director General of Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) we have already agreed that when you come back in January, the road will be complete,” he announced.

“When we make that road, we will also ensure that the sewer line is well-placed. That is part of what we discussed with your leaders last week and we agreed to fix roads, especially in the Eastlands region which was left behind,” he added.

On water, Ruto vowed to officially open the Ndakaini project which will sort out some of the rationing issues in the city.