KIAMBU, Kenya — The Ministry of Defence (MoD), through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), will supervise the construction of Thika Stadium, with works scheduled to begin this month, marking a significant national–county collaboration in public infrastructure delivery.
The development was confirmed by Dr Patrick Mariru after a high-level meeting with Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi at the county headquarters on Monday.
The engagement focused on the project’s groundbreaking modalities, programme of works, and implementation timelines.
“Ministry of Defence through KDF will supervise the construction of Thika Stadium, starting this month,” Mariru said.
He noted that senior officials from both the national government and Kiambu County were present at the meeting.
The involvement of KDF places the stadium among a growing number of strategic public projects overseen by the military, leveraging its engineering capacity, logistical discipline, and track record in delivering large-scale infrastructure within strict timelines.
Strategic Role for KDF
KDF has in recent years been increasingly deployed to supervise or implement national projects, particularly where speed, technical precision, and public accountability are considered critical.
The Defence Ministry’s engineering units have previously been involved in road works, bridges, housing projects, and emergency infrastructure.
County officials said the partnership reflects a broader government approach of aligning national technical capacity with devolved development priorities under Article 6(2) of the Constitution, which calls for cooperation between national and county governments.
Boost for Sports Infrastructure
The Thika Stadium project is expected to strengthen sports infrastructure in Kiambu County, which has long relied on facilities in Nairobi for major sporting events.
Once completed, the stadium is expected to host regional competitions, youth development programmes, and community events.
Governor Wamatangi has previously pledged to prioritise sports, youth empowerment, and social infrastructure as part of his administration’s development agenda, arguing that modern facilities are key to nurturing talent and creating economic opportunities.
Sports infrastructure has increasingly become a focus area for both national and county governments, amid renewed emphasis on youth engagement, creative industries and sports tourism.
The decision to place the project under MoD and KDF supervision also reflects ongoing concerns over stalled or poorly executed county projects across the country.
Auditor-General reports have repeatedly flagged weaknesses in project management, procurement compliance, and value for money at both levels of government.