President Kenyatta commissions the construction of Ulinzi Sports Complex

President Kenyatta commissions the construction of Ulinzi Sports Complex

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday commissioned the construction of the proposed Ulinzi Sports Complex which sits on 35 hectares of land in Lang’ata Barracks  Nairobi.

Once complete the Complex will have among others, a 7,500 seater stadium with a pitch for football, hockey and rugby.

There will also be a standard eight-lane running track.

The football pitch will host home matches for FKF Premier League side Ulinzi Stars who are currently based at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

The works is projected to be completed in a year’s time and is being conducted by Chinese construction company, China Wuyi.

Assistant Chief of Defence Forces Major General Jonah Mwangi in charge of Operations, Doctrine and Training explained that there are plans to also develop an aquatic centre within the complex.

The football pitch will host home matches for FKF Premier League side Ulinzi Stars who are currently based at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

The president said the complex will not only boost sporting infrastructure in the military but all the sportsmen in the country.

“The sports complex aligns well with my agenda of promoting sporting activities. I also want to point out that sport is part of our national identity and the proposed facility will further enhance our prestige as a premier sporting nation,” said Kenyatta.

He added: “We have hosted various international sporting events in the past and the completion of the complex will further enhance Kenya’s opportunities to host more events in future.”

The president was accompanied by Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and and her Foreign Affairs counterpart Raychelle Omamo and the Chief of Defence Forces, General Robert Kibochi.

Also in attendance were athletes of Kenya Defence Forces from different disciplines led by world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, national basketball team captain Eric Mutoro and Ulinzi Stars head coach Benjamin Nyangweso.

Nyangweso welcomed the project saying it will enable them have a ground of their own.

“I am very excited because we will finally have our own home ground. We have been in Nakuru for long and we have developed a very strong fan base there. We hope that when this stadium is complete then we will make it a fortress,” said Nyangweso.

Mutoro lauded the project saying it will further strengthen the Ulinzi Warriors team which competes at the Kenya Basketball League.

“It is very big plus for us since we will have a ground for training along with other facilities including a swimming pool which is very important for a basketball player,” said Mutoro.

On her part Obiri was excited with the construction of an athletics track which has been a main challenge for Kenyan athletes.

“We only have to train at either Nyayo Stadium or Kasarani but this will now give us another venue for training,” said Obiri.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya president Paul Tergat who also graced the event said the complex will make the Defence Forces teams a formidable force.

“I think this is a big win for sports and  not only for the Defence Forces. This facility although it is primarily for the Forces I think other teams will also be accommodated,” said Tergat who is also a Major in KDF.

The president later toured the Defence Forces Wellness Centre also located in the same barracks.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta Lang’ata Barracks Ulinzi Sports Complex

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