Editor's Review

The president committed to elevating the Masinde Muliro Stadium to host high-level sporting events.

President William Ruto has committed to developing the Masinde Muliro Stadium to befit the status recognised internationally.

Speaking in Kimilili on Sunday, June 2, during a church service, the head of state explained that the national government had taken over the construction of the facility, which played host to this year's Madaraka Day.

The initial construction works of the 40,000 seater stadium were under the county government.

With the national government bankrolling the development, the facility would be up for use in the near future, with its ultra-modern state attracting top-flight matches from the English Premier League.

"We have taken over the construction of the stadium as national government. The contractor won't leave the site anytime soon until it is completed. There is a lot of work to be done. We are going to build it to the highest standards possible to be an international stadium, so that any high-level match can be played here, including the ones like Arsenal and Manchester United," said Ruto amid cheers.

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An aerial view of Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, Bungoma county.

This came a day after the president sounded a warning to those believed to have seized public land around the stadium,

He observed that individuals he did not mention were hampering the expansion of the Masinde Muliro Stadium by holding and developing the land around the sporting facility.

He asked them to vacate on their own, lest the national government take action and enforce forcible eviction.

Ruto restated that the stadium would be expanded as planned.

"Let me ask the people around this stadium, especially those who have decided to acquire some of the public land, please, let us respect each other; everyone having land around here knowing it is government property, please pack your things and leave. We will develop the whole of this area. We don't want fights with people. Government property belongs to all citizens," said the president.

The president's pronouncement came weeks after a mall outside the facility was demolished.

Owned by the family of former Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati, the building housing the Khetias Supermarket was brought down to free space for the expansion of the stadium.

Wangamati faulted the current county administration for supposedly flouting a court order stopping the demolition.