Kiprugut Chumo Stadium Finally Unveiled

The historic Kericho Green Stadium has been remaned Kiprugut Chumo Stadium.

The renaming exercise presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Ababu Namwamba, came a month after the pronouncement made by President, Dr. William Ruto during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations held here in Kericho.

Speaking after unveiling the commemorative plaque to signify the official adoption of the new name for the stadium, Namwamba termed the event an incredible fete in honour of a great athletic icon who flew the Kenyan flag high in the international arena by becoming the first African to win an Olympic medal.

“This is the most significant activity I have ever conducted in my history as a Cabinet Secretary both in the previous and the current regimes, and I must say that moving forward, we will no longer honour our sports personalities when they are dead or when they are bedridden, but we commit ourselves as government to appreciate them when they can still see and hear,” assured Namwamba.

He said Kericho lies within the Kenya’s primary athletics belt and that his ministry through the directive from the President,will see the Kiprugut Chumo stadium fitted with the necessary facilities to meet the international set standards.Namwamba also announced that the historic Kapkatet stadium will be upgraded.

Sports Principal Secretary, Eng.Peter Tum said the government was considering the establishment of an athletics academy in the region complete with a talent monitoring system for capturing and nurturing young upcoming athletes.

The acting CECM in charge of Sports, Hon. Brian Langat who represented H.E.Governor, Dr. Erick Mutai, said the County Government of Kericho will work closely with the Sports Ministry, Sports Kenya and other key players to ensure that the newly rebranded stadium becomes an international sports facility.

Several dignitaries who graced the occasion included, athletics legends such as Charles Asati, Hezekiah Nyamau, Rose Tata Muya, Billy Konchellah, Stephen Marai and several Masters Athletes.
Others included, President Athletics Kenya, Lt.Gen.(Rt) Jackson Tuwei, CECMS, Hon.Rosemary Rop(Water, Energy, Environment, Forestry and Natural Resources), Hon.Benard Bii(Public Works, Roads and Transport), Dr.Wesly Bor(County Secretary and Head of County Public Service), Chief Officer, Geoffrey Bett(ICE, Youth Affairs, Gender and Sports).