Maragua's Gakoigo stadium set for Sh700 million facelift

Business
By Boniface Gikandi | Sep 18, 2025
Youth and Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi speaking to the media after conducting of a public participation forum. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

Gakoigo Stadium in Maragua will be upgraded to a 10,000-seater facility at the cost of  Sh700 million, Youth and Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has said.

Mr Mwangi said that the state of the facility that served as the Murang’a ASK ground and stadium since the pre-independence era was in bad shape and needed rehabilitation.

He Gakoigo has had hosted hundreds of political rallies, community meetings, ASK shows and sporting events yet had remained in poor state.

“Vandalism has left it in a dilapidated state, but presently the government is ready to give it a lease of new life,” said the PS.

He said that, working on the presidential directive, the facility be upgraded to an eight-lane running track, a standard football pitch, modern changing rooms, and security features.

“We are focused on ensuring that the stadium will have the capacity to host both national and international games competitions, thus promoting Maragua on the sporting map,” he added.

He said that the Mumbi Grounds in Murang’a town will also be transformed into a modern stadium, thus promoting the sport. 

The PS visited the ground a week after Maragua MP Mary Wamaua questioned why the upgrade programme that had earmarked Gakoigo was diverted to Mumbi grounds in Kiharu.

Mwangi said that 37 sports academies will be established across the country, as Murang’a will benefit from Mirira Sports Academy in Kiharu Constituency, presently at 30 per cent complete.

He noted it is one of 37 sports academies being built across the country under phase one at a cost of Sh1.7 billion.

“The sports academy will have an athletics track, a football pitch, basketball, volleyball and netball courts, as well as a borehole and changing rooms,” said the PS when he toured the Mirira sports academy.

Share this story
Strategic Nest unveils 2025 Leadership Award Honorees
SNC, a research-driven communications and public relations firm, has announced the winners of the 2025 edition of the Strategic Business & Leadership Awards (SBL 2025).
Graft, bureaucracy threaten Kenya's Gulf investment hopes, experts warn
Kenya risks losing billions in Gulf investments unless the government tackles corruption, bureaucracy and outdated systems, industry leaders have warned.
Nairobi coffee auction fetch Sh1 billion
Reports from the NCE indicate that 10 coffee brokers participated in the market, where they delivered 1,112 bags of grade AA and 5,297 bags of AB.
Fintech milestone as Kenya joins Visa acquiring space
For years, online card transactions in Kenya have been routed through foreign banks and global processors, limiting local control over costs and settlement times.
Maragua's Gakoigo stadium set for Sh700 million facelift
Mr Mwangi said that the state of the facility that served as the Murang’a ASK ground and stadium since the pre-independence era was in bad shape and needed rehabilitation.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS