By Alex Maina
For years, 64 Stadium in Kiplombe Ward stood tall not just as a sports field, but as a symbol of pride, opportunity, and unity for the people of Uasin Gishu County. It was where major tournaments were played, where national day events brought people together, and where dreams were born on the turf. Youth saw it as the place where their talents would shine. Traders saw it as the heartbeat of their daily earnings. But today, it sits quietly. Unfinished. Forgotten.
The stadium was meant to be renovated and completed by 2022. Now, in 2025, it remains a stalled project, half-built and full of broken promises. According to The Standard, May 2024. Reports by the Senate and Auditor General, the stadium was allocated over KSh 1.1 billion, and a contractor was already paid KSh 755 million. Yet less than half of the work is done. Questions of accountability hang in the air.
For the young people of Kiplombe, this is more than just about steel and grass. It’s about lost chances. Many hoped that with the renovation, the stadium would attract scouts, create training grounds, and open up jobs in coaching, security, and maintenance. Today, they’re left with empty promises and no platform to show their skills.
But it’s not just the youth who are affected.
Just beside the stadium is West Market. Once vibrant and noisy, today it’s almost quiet. During matches and public events, traders sold snacks, water, football gear, and souvenirs. Hotels and guesthouses were fully booked. Small eateries like Mama Keziah’s Hotel ran from morning till night feeding fans, teams, and travellers.
Mama Keziah says,
“When the stadium was working, I had four staff. Today, I work alone. But I haven’t given up. I still believe one day this stadium will open again.”
Now? Many of those hotels are closed. Guesthouses have empty rooms. Traders who used to smile as crowds passed their stalls now sit idle.
That hope is what keeps the Kiplombe Community going. The belief that 64 Stadium will not just be completed, but that it will return the pride, jobs, and energy to the area. That it will once again host games, inspire children, and give life to the surrounding businesses.
For now, the community waits not in silence, but in faith.
