The ongoing construction of the Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet County is transforming more than the region’s sporting landscape, with local workers saying the project is creating jobs, improving livelihoods and equipping young people with valuable skills.
Alexene Cherotich, a member of the site’s survey team, said the project has provided much-needed employment opportunities in an area where jobs have been difficult to come by.
“When you look around Kamariny, you can see that many people have benefited. Jobs have been difficult to find, but now many residents have work and are earning a living,” she said.
Cherotich expressed gratitude to the project team and President William Ruto for supporting infrastructure projects that create employment while driving development.
“As surveyors, we are grateful for the opportunity to work here. We hope more projects will be rolled out because they have greatly helped many people,” she added.
Once complete, the modern facility will feature a 10,000-seat capacity, a FIFA-standard tartan athletics track, a natural grass multi-purpose pitch for football and rugby, full canopy roofing, changing rooms, spectator parking, a boundary wall with a dedicated ticketing area, and three access roads connecting the stadium to surrounding roads.
Locals working at the site say the project is already making a significant social and economic impact.
Austin Odhiambo, a casual worker attached to the plumbing team, said the project has enabled him to earn a steady income while sharpening his professional skills through hands-on experience.
“The experience has been very good. I have gained new skills and practical knowledge in my field that I didn’t have before. This project has helped many young people because instead of staying idle, they now have work,” he said.
He praised the project’s weekly payment system, saying workers receive their wages on time, providing financial stability for many households. “There is no one who goes unpaid. Every week we receive our wages on time, and that has made a big difference to many families,” he said.
He called for more government-funded infrastructure projects, noting that they create employment for skilled youth while helping reduce unemployment and related social challenges.
“Many young people survive through their skills. When projects like this come up, they give us a chance to earn an honest living and improve our daily incomes,” he said.
He added that the completed stadium will provide local athletes with access to a modern training facility closer to home.
“Many stadiums require people to pay to access training grounds. Since this is a government facility, we hope athletes will be able to train here either free of charge or at a low cost,” he said.
Known globally as the “Home of Champions,” Elgeyo Marakwet has produced some of Kenya’s and the world’s greatest middle and long distance runners.
The new Kamariny Stadium is expected to strengthen the county’s reputation by providing world-class facilities for athletics, football and rugby while positioning the region to host national and regional competitions.
The investment is also expected to stimulate the local economy by attracting training camps, sporting events and sports tourism, while creating business opportunities for surrounding communities and nurturing the next generation of Kenyan champions.
