Ithookwe Stadium nears completion, Wote Stadium stalls
Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui is 80-percent complete as of September 11, 2025. The Ksh. 700million facility will host this year's Mashujaa Day, that will be hosted for the first time in Kitui County on October 20.
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Wote Stadium was among stadia projects commissioned in the run-up to the 2017 general elections by the Jubilee government, and which the then Deputy President William Ruto declared it would be complete within six months.
Speaking on Wednesday after inspecting the construction of Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, which is 80-percent complete, CS Mvurya said the original plan for a 10,000-capacity stadium in Wote faced topographical challenges.
“For those familiar with engineering, filling up four meters across the entire site is not just expensive, it is technically impractical under the current budget framework. That is the major technical challenge we encountered with Wote,” the CS stated.
As a result, Mvurya said the Ministry had downgraded the current site to a 5,000-seater stadium, while working with the County Government of Makueni to allocate new land where a full 10,000-capacity stadium can be constructed, similar to the ongoing project in Kitui.
“No county will be left behind. In some regions, we will establish sports academies, in others 10,000-seater or 15,000-seater stadiums, all in line with our mandate to uplift grassroots sports and provide modern, clean facilities for our young people.”
While appearing before the Senate on July 23, Mvurya revealed that phase one of the stadium’s construction consumed Ksh 299 million.
In Kitui, Mvurya who was accompanied by Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi, County leadership, and officials from the National Celebrations Committee, said the facility would be ready to host the Mashujaa Day celebrations next month.
He added that after Mashujaa Day, additional work, including installation of a tartan track, compliant changing rooms, and other modern amenities, will be undertaken to ensure Ithookwe meets full sporting standards for both local leagues and international fixtures.
“This is the time for Kitui. Hosting Mashujaa Day brings enormous opportunities, but beyond the celebrations, this facility will anchor lasting socio-economic benefits and offer a platform for youth to showcase and nurture their talents.”
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