Kapsabet Mayor Michael Rono has assured residents of Nandi that the dilapidated Kipchoge Keino Stadium will not be allocated to private developers.

Reacting to reservations raised by athletes and sports fraternity in the county over the fate of the aging facility, Rono said the stadium would will remain a training ground for athletics, rugby and footballers.

The new sports complex estimated to cost Sh180m will be funded by the international Olympic Committee (IOC). Plan to construct the stadium at the Kip Keino Stadium in Kapsabet has been dodged by lack of the required minimum acreage of land.

The old stadium is 6.2 acres while the required land is 9 acres and the council has been forced to seek alternative land measuring 15 acres next to the local agricultural show ground.

Sports fraternity in the county have threatened to block the relocation of the stadium expressing fears that some councilors were out to grab it. However, Rono said the decision to hand over the 15 acres to the government to construct a new facility doesn't open doors to grabbers.