Known globally as the “Home of Champions”, Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County is finally regaining its shine, thanks to the revival of the iconic Kamariny Stadium, a long-stalled project now back on track.
Among the locals benefitting from this renewed activity is Sarah Nasimiyu, a 37-year-old casual labourer who earns Ksh 600 daily at the construction site.
A mother of one, Nasimiyu relocated from Trans Nzoia County in search of opportunities after hearing about the stadium project. She says the job has made a significant difference in her life.
“I’m so grateful. I can now comfortably pay school fees and put food on the table for my child,” she told TV47 Digital.
“Even with this flu that would normally keep me in bed, I still show up for work because this job means everything to me,” she added.
The stadium, once a symbol of stalled projects, is now a site of purpose and productivity.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who spoke during the Jukwaa la Usalama grassroots forum in Elgeyo Marakwet, said the contractor had been tasked to complete the 10,000-seater facility by July 2026.
“This project began when I served in the Ministry of Sports under a directive by President William Ruto. I am confident the contractor on site has the capacity to deliver on time and meet the required standards,” Murkomen stated.
The stadium will accommodate ball sports and athletics, both local and international.
An additional 1,500 VIP seats are part of the plan. A second phase will introduce hostels to house up to 400 athletes in the camp.
True to government directives, the project has prioritized local youth for employment, a move aimed at addressing unemployment and deterring banditry which is prone in the area.
Edwin Kipruto, a 32-year-old casual worker earning Ksh 500 a day at the site, says the job has kept him focused and off the criminal path.
“I want to buy a cow from my savings. Eventually, I’ll sell milk and earn from it,” he said.
In a region often linked to cattle rustling, Kipruto’s ambition is a testament to changing times and new opportunities under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
During his tour, CS Murkomen also assessed the mobile registration exercise for civil documents.
Currently, Elgeyo Marakwet’s birth certificate issuance rate stands at 70 per cent, hindered by staffing shortages.
“We’re deploying more personnel to Keiyo South and Marakwet East in the next two weeks to operationalize those centers,” said Murkomen.
The Cabinet Secretary was joined by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, Keiyo North MP Adams Kipsanai, Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr. Abdi Hassan, County Assembly Speaker Lawi Kibire, and several MCAs.
