Calls for completion of Kamariny Stadium increase amid Kiptum's success

Just outside the Home of Champions, Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County, lies a historic place; the Kamariny Stadium, whose completion is still far from sight despite the town having constantly fed the country with world record beaters.

These world beaters include former Marathon champion Joycilline Jepkosgei, women's only world marathon record holder Mary Keitany, 800m world record holder David Rudisha, former 5,000m silver medalist Sylvia Kibet, and former world cross country champion Irene Cheptai.

Not only is it the training ground for budding young athletes, but also foreign athletes pitch camps in the area as they prepare for various global events.

While the town produces athletes who can break world records, it struggles to give them a stadium that is worthy of their limitless skill. For six long years, this construction project has remained an unfinished symphony of dashed hopes.

The renovation works started in 2017, but to date, the stadium is still far from completion, raising more questions than answers on what really went wrong.

Speaking during the homecoming ceremony of current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, Elgeyo County governor Wesley Rotich called for a collaborative approach between the county, ministry of sports, and the national government, to ensure speedy completion of the facility, noting that it would help the county birth more champions.

Faith Kipyegon nominated for 2023 World Female Athlete Of The Year award

"As the Governor of this county, we will go back to the President who had promised us that Kamariny Stadium will be finished, but we will be going back, this time with our brother who put us on the global map, to discuss the process of completion of the stadium so that we can have enough training facilities. We have been maintaining the stadium to make it playable, but we hope that this world record will attract more people to Elgeyo Marakwet county to do more stadia, not only Kamariny, but also other facilities," the head of the devolved unit offered.

His sentiments were echoed by the speaker of the Elgeyo Marakwet county assembly, Philemon Sabulei, who pleaded with the national government and the ministry of sports to take advantage of Kiptum's global victory and complete the long overdue stadium.

"As part of our plea to the national government, we are calling on them to continue supporting athletes in this country, by building enough facilities. One of them being the completion of Kamariny Stadium which H.E governor Wesley Rotich has been doing his best to ensure its playability. The national government should join us in this historical moment, and as a way of congratulating this hero, ensure that resources are put in place so that we can bring up more champions," Sabulei told the press.

The event was also graced by Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei who lauded the combined efforts of athletes, coaches and the devolved unit in making the facility conducive to training in. He further assured his support in order to see the dream come true.

"I believe that the Government is looking at completing Kamariny, which is one of the oldest stadiums in the country. I want to appreciate the coaches who have been looking after the stadium, together with the Governor. We will support each other and see that there is a level of improvement as we head into the future," the World Athletics Vice Chairman averred.

However, in a recent turn of events, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports Mr. Ababu Namwamba revealed that the construction of the Kamariny Stadium will not proceed as the Government of Kenya plans to convert it to an ultra-modern elite training center. The CS was speaking during the homecoming ceremony of Kiptum in Nairobi on Tuesday 9.

All pomp and color as record holder Kiptum returns home

"We have assessed the location of Kamariny and arrived at the conclusion that there is no need to build an international stadium in the area due to the high altitude. No international competitions can be held there, but it is a perfect area for training, and therefore, we are going to build a high-altitude elite training center at the same location," Namwamba said.

In the spirit of the countless record-breakers who emerged from these fertile grounds, Kenyans can only hope that the relevant authorities will invest in a world-class facility to birth more dreams and make more champions.