By Hope Barbra
The Madaraka Day celebrations gravy train will this year head to Vihiga County, the home village of Prime Cabinet Secretary Dr. Musalia Mudavadi.
For Mudavadi, this marks a milestone in ensuring that long-awaited development projects finally land in Vihiga County.
Among the goodies is the construction of Kidundu Stadium in Vihiga County.
Mudavadi said the construction of the stadium has been a dream for decades and will soon become a reality.
He said the new 10,000-seater stadium will host Madaraka Day celebrations this year.
“From February, under the instructions of H.E. President William Ruto, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will begin the construction, which is expected to take four months to complete,” said the PCS.
Mudavadi spoke at a press conference after meeting landowners around the earmarked Kidundu Stadium site. He said there was a breakthrough after an agreement was reached to relinquish over 20 acres of land to allow construction to begin in February.
“Kidundu Stadium is among several mega projects being implemented by the Kenya Kwanza government.
“Other projects include the Mudasa Affordable Housing Project, hostels, the Kenya School of Government, markets—including a major one in Mbale Town—and several kilometres of roads in Vihiga County,” he said.
Mudavadi said those who started the journey to have a stadium in Kidundu were no longer alive, but their hopes and aspirations were now becoming a reality.
“This will stop being a dream and become a reality. President William Ruto declared that during his term, he was keen to ensure Kidundu Stadium becomes a reality, and now we are here to see that dream come true,” said Mudavadi.
He added that stakeholders were working together to ensure everything was put in place to make the project a success.
Mudavadi said he assured landowners that due process would be followed to ensure all affected households are compensated.
“The intention of the government is to ensure that every landowner is left in a comfortable position after relinquishing land given to them by God and their parents,” said the PCS.
He said that as a way of honouring the landowners’ selflessness and sacrifice for the greater good, their names would be inscribed in the Hall of Honour at the stadium once completed.
Once completed, Mudavadi said Kidundu Stadium will be placed on the national map as a facility of its kind, offering the people of Vihiga an opportunity to showcase their sporting prowess and bringing pride to the county.
Mr. Duncan Kagesa, the chairman of the Kidundu landowners, thanked the government for ensuring consultations that have seen affected households settled.
“Mudavadi has settled our matters. In the next one month, construction will start. We welcome the project,” said Kagesa.
The Kidundu Stadium landowners said they agreed with the government on a willing buyer–willing seller basis.
“We were offered what we were comfortable with. What is important is not money,” they said.
Governor Wilber Ottichilo said the efforts by President Ruto and Mudavadi had borne fruit with the scheduled construction of Kidundu Stadium.
“We are now ready to welcome those coming to undertake the construction, which can start as early as next week,” said Governor Ottichilo.
Vihiga MP Ernest Ogesi said the future looked bright and the reality of the stadium was taking shape.
“We have had serious engagement with the landowners, and what they have done is a sacrifice,” said Ogesi.
Vihiga County Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala said the construction of Kidundu Stadium was part of the county’s broader development journey, which she likened to a “journey towards Singapore.”
