How Bukhungu Stadium Upgrade is Boosting Sports and Business in Kakamega

The ongoing upgrade of Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega is already transforming the facility into a better environment for athletes and football players. 

Residents, athletes and coaches in the Western region said the project was also raising hopes that the completed stadium would attract major sporting events, create employment and stimulate business opportunities. 

Kakamega resident Duncan Lando said some of the challenges that previously affected athletes had been addressed, particularly the condition of the running track and drainage system. 

"The challenges Bukhungu had, for example, were that the running track was muddy. But now it has been improved, so we can run well, and even when it rains, the drainage system is working properly," he said.

Lando said the improved facility was making it easier for athletes to train, while better playing conditions were also motivating footballers. 

He added that completing the project could attract visitors from different parts of Kenya and beyond, creating business opportunities for residents selling food and other goods around the stadium.

Lando said he hoped Bukhungu would eventually become an international facility capable of attracting major events and putting Kakamega on the global sporting map. 

He also called for the construction work to move faster so that the facility could be completed and put to full use.

Athlete Felisters Mukhule said the ongoing construction was giving athletes and football players renewed confidence in the facility. 

She noted that teams from other counties were already visiting Kakamega and appreciating the improvements being made at the stadium.

"When I came to this stadium, it was not in good condition, but now the quality construction that is ongoing is helping. Even the football players like it because they are proud of it. Once the construction is completed, I believe other counties will come here," she stated.

Mukhule said athletes had previously faced potholes, uneven sections and muddy conditions whenever it rained, increasing the risk of falls, injuries and unfinished races. 

She believed the completed facility would attract athletes and teams from across the country for training and competitions.

On his part, Luke said the progress of construction had created optimism that Bukhungu Stadium would eventually enable Kakamega to host major events while opening up new opportunities for residents.

"Once construction is completed, it will create more employment opportunities, especially for the youth, and the economy of Kakamega County will grow because we will be able to host international events, creating new opportunities," he said.

Luke said the improved stadium would help address some of the challenges that had existed before the upgrade, including limited seating, exposure of spectators to the sun and inadequate facilities for players and officials.

At the same time, football coach Gilbert Coach recalled that Mumias had once had one of the best football playing surfaces in the region, but said the decline of the facility had also affected the development of football.  

He noted that players had subsequently been forced to use open grounds, creating safety concerns for fans and making it harder for scouts to identify emerging talent.

Athletics coach Frank Omondi, a Kenya Prisons officer, said Bukhungu Stadium had undergone significant changes since 2015, when the ground had trees, potholes and lacked the infrastructure expected of a proper sporting facility.

Omondi said the stadium had since provided infrastructure for athletics training, football and other activities, allowing athletes to train for longer periods while giving coaches an improved environment to nurture talent.

The coaches said the investment in Bukhungu Stadium had restored pride in Western Kenya by creating a facility that could support multiple sporting disciplines while contributing to the local economy.

They noted that enclosed grounds, improved seating and better infrastructure could allow fans to pay to watch quality football, while athletes would have better training conditions and businesses around the stadium would benefit from increased activity.