A shortage of workers has delayed work on key projects, including the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, where Mashujaa Day celebrations will be held on October 20.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Edisson Nyale said contractors have been forced to source workers from other regions to help speed up the work, with about 10 days to go before the event.
He said construction work at the Kipchoge Stadium and at affordable housing projects in Eldoret is going on 24 hours a day, but the shortage of labourers has slowed progress.
“We have a lot of work going on at various sites, including the stadium, and we have achieved good progress, but there has been a challenge of few workers on site,” Nyale said.
Nyale spoke at his office in Eldoret during a briefing on the ongoing preparations for Mashujaa Day, which will be co-hosted by three counties: Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet.
The commissioner urged youths with skills, including painters, to turn up at the various construction sites and take up the available jobs.
He said contractors at the Kipchoge Stadium were nearing 80 per cent completion and that the venue will host about 15,000 people during the fete.
He said there would be many delegations from across the country and that large-scale screens would be set up outside the stadium to enable residents to watch the proceedings live.
Nyale said security had been beefed up in all parts of the city after profiling by security teams to ensure visitors are safe.
“The city will be hosting a huge number of visitors and we are putting in place adequate preparations, including enough hotels where many guests will be accommodated,” he said.
The commissioner said several new roads within Eldoret City were now almost complete and would be used during the fete to be presided over by President William Ruto.
Nyale said several sports events and other activities were ongoing in all three counties to ensure residents are involved in the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The County Commissioner said all arrangements for the event would be in place ahead of October 20th and that various teams had been set up to handle different aspects of the preparations.
Ruto is expected to be in the region for several days to tour and commission development projects before presiding over the Mashujaa Day celebrations at the Kipchoge Stadium.
