The government plans to complete all stalled playing grounds by the end of the year.

Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum the move is in line with the pledges the State made to the sporting fraternity in the country.

Tum made the announcment yesterday when he met the National Assembly’s sports committee in Mombasa, amid concerns over Kenya’s preparedness in the East Africa 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Pamoja Bid, after images of a giant tent pitched at the heart of Nyayo Stadium emerged. Tum assured the government’s commitment to ensure provision of playing grounds in the country.

When asked about the stalled Mombasa stadium, Tum expressed his disappointment with the slow progress of reconstruction of Mombasa stadium, which is under the Mombasa county government hinting that investigations on any misappropriation of money is ongoing.

“As government we have two things that we must do, we must progress and at the same time reflect and bring to book anybody who has misappropriated funds or government property, so there are institutions that are focusing on that, and we have the institution of the ministry that is pushing forward,” said Tum.

Mombasa county stadium is part of the grounds earmarked for completion and the Principal Secretary says discussions with Mombasa county government are at an advanced stage to actualize the project. Mombasa stadium stalled in 2014 and rehabilitation work has dragged on over the years.

“So Mombasa stadium is a facility that is going to benefit everyone here, and we cannot be reflecting on what happened and not focusing on what we must do, so as government we are in discussion with the Mombasa county government and we are asking ourselves how we can work together and see how we can actualize that stadium. The discussions are at a level where we think the construction and everything else will start,” said Tum.