An Audit on Kasarani Stadium Uncovers Multi-Billion Shilling Irregularities

A recent audit has placed Sports Kenya under scrutiny after it emerged that the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, lacks a valid title deed, raising alarm over questionable projects, inflated costs, and massive losses to taxpayers.

The shocking revelations came to light during a tense session in Parliament, where members of the National Assembly’s Public Investment Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) confronted officials from Sports Kenya over their management of billions set aside for stadium development.

According to the audit, Sports Kenya admitted that it is still pursuing the title deed for the more than 200-acre Kasarani land from the National Land Commission. This admission triggered concerns about the legality of projects already completed or launched on the property, given that ownership remains unsettled.

Lawmakers were further disturbed by disclosures that millions of shillings had already been spent on consultancy and feasibility studies for three proposed national stadiums in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret which are projects that remain unimplemented to date.

Phantom Projects and Unaccounted Billions

The report showed that Ksh99.6 million was allocated for feasibility studies, while an additional Ksh57 million was spent on architectural and project management services. This was done even before land ownership was secured for the proposed facilities. The three stadiums, which were part of Vision 2030 and the Sports Act 2013, had been projected to cost the exchequer Ksh42 billion.

Committee Vice-Chairperson Caleb Amisi (Saboti) pressed Acting Director General Gabriel Komora and his team to explain why such vast sums were directed toward consultancy when the projects have not even started. Legislators warned that unless action is taken, the spending would translate into wasted resources, further straining the national budget. Committee member Geoffrey Ruku also questioned why stadium construction in the country often stalls despite receiving substantial allocations.

Soaring Costs and Dubious Payments

Beyond the unbuilt stadiums, the audit flagged dramatic cost escalations in existing projects. For instance, the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, originally budgeted at Ksh109.7 million, saw its costs rise to Ksh355.1 million which is an increase of more than 200 percent. Officials from Sports Kenya failed to give satisfactory answers and were ordered to present documentation for a new Ksh3.5 billion rehabilitation contract linked to the same stadium.

In addition, the audit revealed controversial payments, including Ksh24.4 million paid to a Moscow football club. MPs described the transaction as suspicious and possibly pointing to misappropriation of public funds.

Lawmakers cautioned that without urgent accountability, the Vision 2030 sports infrastructure agenda risks collapsing under corruption, poor planning, and mismanagement.

The audit findings cover activities dating back to the 2014/2015 financial year, and legislators have pledged to pursue the matter fully until Kenyans receive a clear explanation of how their money was spent.