The Ministry of Sports has come under scrutiny once again, this time for allocating a staggering Ksh1 billion to consultancy services related to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, People Daily reports.According to documents presented in Parliament by Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum, significant amounts were channeled into feasibility studies and other consultancy work for the development of sports infrastructure, yet little progress is evident on the ground.##NAJAVA_MECA_8396322##The breakdown of spending shows that Ksh1 billion was allocated for AFCON-related stadium consultancies, while another Ksh352 million was paid for regional consultancy services. Further, the ministry allocated Ksh1.5 billion to conduct feasibility studies and topographical surveys for the construction of sports academies in constituencies across the country.Despite these huge investments, the reality remains disappointing—there is minimal physical development of the promised stadiums and sports facilities. Legislators were particularly alarmed by the Ksh3.1 billion spent on the renovation of the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi and the over Ksh1.7 billion directed towards the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) project at Kasarani, which includes the construction of hostels and an access gate.While defending the spending, Tum explained that the ministry had enlisted consultants from the University of Nairobi to handle various projects, but admitted that the ministry was reevaluating its relationship with these consultants. He also confirmed that some consultancy contracts had already been terminated as part of a new approach to ensure efficiency.AFCONU20Q: Salim Babu reveals Kenya’s winning formula against Tanzania“The ministry has ended contracts with several consultancy firms as part of our restructuring efforts,” Tum told the Parliamentary Sports and Culture Committee chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama.Committee members, led by Wanyama, raised concerns over the ministry’s justification for spending billions on consultants while actual progress on the ground was lacking. Yatta MP Basil Ngui questioned why the ministry didn’t rely on experts from the Public Works Department instead of outsourcing costly consultancy services.“How can the ministry justify spending over a billion shillings on consultants for projects like Talanta Stadium and the sports academies?” Ngui asked.Wanyama echoed these concerns, urging the ministry to expedite ongoing projects, noting that the youth, particularly Generation Z, are counting on sports to unlock future opportunities.Former world 800m U20 champion passes on“The youth are relying on you—ensure these projects are completed to empower them,” Wanyama said.Earlier in the year, the ministry had reported that the construction of Talanta Sports City and upgrades to the Kasarani Stadium were on track, but this has since been called into question.Tum’s presentation to Parliament, which detailed the ministry’s budget implementation for 22 projects in the 2023/24 financial year, also highlighted that Ksh115.2 million had been allocated for the automation of the sports registrar’s office and Ksh20 million set aside for the construction of Malinya Stadium in Kakamega County, a venue used for local bullfighting events.##EDITORS_CHOICE##
