Residents of Kichukwa Village in Lunga Lunga Sub-County are up in arms, demanding immediate answers and an investigation into the stalled construction of a sports field in their area.
They are calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the alleged misappropriation of Sh38 million allocated for the project in 2019.
The sports field, strategically located near the Kenya-Tanzania border, is now a desolate expanse, far removed from its initial promise of nurturing local sporting talent.
Residents report that the contractor abandoned the site in 2020, leaving behind only a partially constructed four-door toilet, two erected goalposts, and an incomplete changing room at its foundation stage.
Adding to the disappointment, the toilet has since collapsed due to heavy rains, and the would-be changing room is now engulfed by overgrown vegetation.
The nine acres of land, generously donated by the community, have been reclaimed by wild shrubs and weeds, rendering the playing surface unusable.
Stones and construction debris are strewn across the unlevelled ground, posing a significant hazard to anyone attempting to use the facility.
Villagers express a profound sense of sidelining in county development projects and lament that their repeated attempts to engage with elected leaders have been futile.
Mr. Athman Ruwa, a respected village elder, voiced the community’s frustration, recalling that during the groundbreaking, they were informed of the Sh38 million allocation.
Six years on, the project remains incomplete, prompting astonishment and anger among the residents.
Mr. Ruwa has appealed directly to the Head of State for intervention, highlighting a broader concern about the misappropriation of funds disbursed from the National Government to counties.
“The funds allocated to these counties, we know them, but they don’t meet the intended purpose,” he stated, emphasizing that a completed sports field would provide a constructive outlet for youth, fostering talent and potentially creating economic opportunities.
Rashid Mwajereko, a youth leader, echoed these sentiments, questioning their identity: “We want to know if Lunga Lunga residents are in Tanzania or Kenya.
If we are in Kenya, we want the sports field to be completed. The project was allocated Sh38 million, but up to now it is deserted.” He stressed the importance of football as a source of income and a deterrent against “indecorous behaviours” like drug and alcohol abuse.
Mwajereko proudly noted that the Sub-County has produced talents like Bandari FC striker Beja Nyamawi, who recently joined the Harambee Stars.
Another resident, Juma Zigambwe, criticized unfulfilled campaign pledges, urging elected leaders to prioritize the development of Kichukwa to align with other villages.
Abdalla Mwambega revealed a disturbing discrepancy, stating they were informed the project was complete, yet the reality on the ground is starkly different.
He reiterated that sports is a “panacea of unemployment” and the project’s completion is crucial.
Mwambega further detailed the breakdown of the allocated funds: “Of the Sh38 million, Sh32 million was for the sports field, and Sh6 million for the construction of a toilet.
The toilet caved in after a heavy downpour.” He appealed to the Ministry of Sports to engage the County Government to ensure the project’s long-overdue completion.
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