Uganda’s bold move to build Hoima Stadium far from its capital shows the power of spreading sports infrastructure beyond major cities. Kenya must learn from this and invest where it matters most, in regions like Eldoret, the true home of our global athletic dominance. 
By Fabian Mwiti
Uganda’s decision to construct Hoima Stadium, nearly 200 kilometres away from Kampala, is a masterstroke. It's a deliberate move to open up mid-western Uganda and spark economic, social, and infrastructural growth in a region that has long been overlooked.
Kenya should borrow a leaf from this approach. Nairobi already boasts three stadiums; we don’t need another one there. Instead, the focus should shift to the western and coastal regions and most importantly to Eldoret. The city has for decades produced world-beating athletes who have carried Kenya’s flag higher than any other sportsmen and women. Yet, the support they get back home remains painfully minimal. Eldoret is crying out for a world-class Olympic stadium, and our athletes deserve nothing less.
Kenya is a football-loving nation, not necessarily a football nation. Our true number one international sport is athletics, and it is here that our identity, pride, and global recognition rest. If there is one group that has consistently given Kenyans a reason to sing the national anthem on the world stage, it is our athletes, not Harambee Stars. And yet, paradoxically, they remain underfunded, under-celebrated, and under-supported.
By 2027, when Kenya co-hosts the Africa Cup of Nations, the tournament will fall right in the heat of an election season. Harambee Stars will not just be a football team; they will inevitably become a political tool, paraded by every politician to push their agenda.
