AGENCY KEEN ON MAKING BUKHUNGU A SPORTS ENTERPRISE

The Kakamega Investment and Development Agency (KCIDA) is determined to convert the state of the art Bukhungu Stadium into an enterprise for sports by hosting various programs and competitions for both amateur and professional sports men and women.

According to Dr. Wilfred Buyema, the Chair of the Investment and Promotion Committee at the KCIDA, the facility will be home to both local and international athletes in the disciplines of soccer, athletics, indoor games, swimming, rugby and basketball among others. He was speaking at a Board meeting Chaired by renown scholar Prof. Nelson Wawire.

“The locals will get a chance to utilize their stadium as a way of nurturing their talents, same way to the professional athletes requiring services of the facility,” he said.

Dr. Buyema said his committee will be tasked with marketing the arena through networks with institutions, sports celebrities and federations locally and internationally. Sports, he noted, can be a big employer to the youth if well managed and marketed.

“The business of the Government is not to do business but provide a conducive environment for its people and investors to carry out their activities freely,” he added.

He also said that coaches in various sports disciplines will be invited regularly to conduct clinics adding that it will be a responsibility of the agency to reach out to prospective investors and win them to Kakamega County.

In addition to the stadium, Dr. Buyema, a former CEO of Uwezo Fund said the board will also re-examine the viability of major projects in the County with the aim of packaging and marketing them to the outside world.

The second phase of construction of the iconic facility is currently underway.