A storm is brewing over the construction and renovation of several stadiums across Kenya, following revelations of mismanagement, procurement irregularities, and questionable variations in contract values. Lawmakers sitting on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have demanded answers from the Ministry of Sports after it emerged that competitive bidding was ignored in favour of direct procurement for several multi-million shilling projects.
Appearing before the committee, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi confirmed that contracts for at least four stadiums had been varied by amounts ranging between Sh50 million and Sh150 million. He defended the changes and the use of direct procurement on the grounds of urgency and the need for standardisation, particularly for facilities earmarked to host national celebrations such as Mashujaa Day.
The stadiums under scrutiny include Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga County, Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, Jamhuri Posta Grounds in Nairobi County, and Jomo Kenyatta Showground Stadium in Kisumu County.
“For purposes of standardisation, we needed to use the same contractor because of compatibility issues and to avoid conflicts with a new contractor,” said Mr Mwangi. He further explained that direct procurement was necessitated by tight timelines linked to hosting national events.
In the case of Wang’uru Stadium, managed by Vee Vee Enterprises Limited, the contract was varied upwards by Sh76.5 million, increasing the total cost from Sh310.5 million to Sh387.05 million, a 25 per cent rise. The PS claimed the variation was justified and approved by the accounting officer due to the need for standardising the stadium in line with other national legacy projects.
At Kirigiti Stadium, the contract cost rose by Sh148.7 million to a total of Sh745.3 million. According to Mr Mwangi, the increase was due to additional works on the VIP pavilion, terraces, gates, perimeter walls, and tax adjustments following the VAT change from 14 to 16 per cent.
Meanwhile, at Jamhuri Posta Grounds, three contracts amounting to Sh1.19 billion were issued. The PS stated that direct procurement was used for the second and third contractors to ensure compatibility and to integrate the additional works seamlessly with ongoing construction.
Jomo Kenyatta Showground Stadium, which cost Sh350 million, was cited as a key venue for Jamhuri Day celebrations, the Africities Conference, and the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Mr Mwangi noted that a police post had been established within the facility to prevent vandalism.
However, MPs expressed deep scepticism and concern over the ministry’s explanations. PAC Chairperson and Butere MP Tindi Mwale criticised the handling of the projects, calling for a complete submission of all contracts, Bills of Quantities (BQs), and variation agreements related to the four stadiums. “Mr PS, you know the story of the stadiums in this country. It is a thorn in the flesh, and we hope you can clean up this mess,” said Mr Mwale.
Other committee members echoed similar sentiments. Turkana Central MP Joseph Namuar questioned why variations were not subjected to fresh tendering. “There is something fishy about it. Instead of retendering the additional works, the same contractors were awarded extensions,” he observed.
Chepalungu MP Koech Mandazi and Aldai MP Marianne Keitany urged the ministry to provide full documentation, including names of all contractors and details of how they secured the deals. Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe demanded an audit of the works, citing poor quality and flooding at Kirigiti Stadium as evidence of shoddy workmanship.
The committee resolved to suspend further deliberations on the matter pending submission of the required documents and pledged to conduct site visits to assess progress and determine whether the public received value for money.
