How state sank Sh607m on stadiums consultancy

MPs are probing how the government spent Sh607 million on feasibility and consultancy services for the construction of stadiums that did not start.

The stadiums were to be built in Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret.

The project was to cost taxpayers Sh42 billion.

In documents tabled in Parliament by Sports Kenya, the government abandoned the projects and instead concentrated on rehabilitating regional stadia, occasioning the multi-million shillings losses.

From the documents, PKF was the lead contractor in the lucrative deal.

Out of the Sh607 million, Sh99.2 million was for the feasibility study, while Sh507.6 million was in respect to architectural designs, quantity surveying and project management services.

The MPs also heard that Sports Kenya did not have titles for the land despite engaging the consultants.

The contract for the studies was awarded to a consortium of four firms comprising two locals and two foreign.

Appearing before the Public Investment Committee on Social Services Committee and Administration, Sports Kenya director general Gabriel Komora was hard pressed to explain how the government spent money on a project that did not even take off.

“This particular tender was abandoned after the project started concentrating on rehabilitating regional projects and therefore this project was not done. Yes the feasibility studies and detailed designs were done but the stadiums were not done,” Komora said.

“The cost of the project came after benchmarking similar projects to have stadiums almost equivalent to being done at Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadiums."

He further explained that in the absence of the land, the consultations for the award of the contract were done based on various specifications on the understanding that they will get the titles later.

For instance, he said, the stadium in Nairobi was to be constructed along Ngong road. “We have the areas where the stadias were to sit on. The titles are not available but we had long discussions and presentations in regards to the lands in question,” he said.

Committee vice chairperson and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said the House team will initiate a full inquiry even as they directed that the committee is furnished with all documents regarding the project.

Among the documents they want tabled are the identity of the four consortiums, their physical address, the amount they were paid and the details of the contract that they signed.

Further the committee wants the details of the feasibility studies, the actual design, the environmental designs and quantity designs.

“Mr DG please help this committee to understand how it will explain to Parliament how Sh607.6 million was paid for a project that did not take off. Is it the intention of the department to make sure that the cost of the feasibility is increased? How do you explain this?” posed the Saboti MP.

Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina said it is suspect that the feasibility studies were done yet Sports Kenya has no title for the land where the said facilities would be put up.

“Are you telling us that the studies were being done on land that was actually not there?” he asked.

Sports Kenya is a state corporation established by the Sports Act, 2013 and given the mandate to carry out functions formally performed by Sports Stadia Management Board and the Department of Sports. The key aim for its formation was to promote co–ordinate and implement national and international sports programmes, establish, manage, develop and maintain the sports facilities including convention centers, indoor sporting and recreational facilities in the country and participate in the promotion of sports tourism among others. Sports Kenya is expected to develop modern sports facilities as well us improve the existing ones.