The stadium at the Embu showground at Njukiiri will be built in the next four and a half months, to host the Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1.
The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo, who led a high powered team of government officials on an inspection tour of the grounds, said contractors may be compelled to work day and night to see that the works were complete in time.
Dr Omollo was accompanied by Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and the Principal Secretaries for Defence, Roads, ICT, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Environment, and Culture. Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich was also in the entourage.
The PS said he could not immediately quantify what the intended works would cost but said the works had already commenced and were at the documentation stage.
He said the renovated stadium will have capacity to sit 20, 000 people who are expected to attend the celebrations whose theme will be “Universal Health Care”.
He added that he expected the completed works to be a good example of what can be achieved when national and county governments work together.
Governor Mbarire said they were proud to have been selected to host the event which she said would bring a lot of opportunities for Embu residents.
The MP for Manyatta Constituency Mr Gitonga Mukunji in whose constituency the event will be held said he hoped the proposed developments will create up to 5, 000 employment opportunities and urged local youth to present themselves to participate.
The developments include the upgrade of the stadium and supporting infrastructure.
Others in the entourage included Embu Woman Representative Njoki Njeru, Mbeere South MP Nebert Muriuki and Embu Senator Alexander Munyi Mundigi.
Source: Kenya News Agency