The Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City has advanced to 91 percent completion, with authorities anticipating full completion by July preceding the AFCON 2027 tournament.
Authorities have reiterated their pledge to complete the stadium as scheduled while Kenya intensifies preparations to jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
During a recent inspection of the venue, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya stated that the administration had implemented a comprehensive governmental strategy to ensure the project aligns with Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards and global specifications.
“This represents a significant venue for AFCON, and we have committed all governmental resources to this initiative. We are certain of delivering it punctually,” Mvurya emphasized.
The Cabinet Secretary mentioned that the three practice pitches within the Talanta Sports City complex currently stand at 87 percent completion, with supporting works also advancing consistently.
He highlighted that the construction company has integrated all CAF recommendations and evaluation criteria throughout the building process to guarantee adherence to international benchmarks.
“We made a conscious technical choice to maintain continuous and periodic engagement with CAF at each construction phase to prevent any non-compliance issues. To date, our progress is simultaneous and satisfactory,” he noted.
Development on the primary stadium pitch continues, with turf already established and projected to reach full maturity within the upcoming three months prior to testing and seam installation.
Additional finishing elements, such as water fountain installation, landscape design, illumination systems, boundary fencing, and electrical connections, are also progressing methodically.
At the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) in Kasarani, Mvurya reported that renovation initiatives initiated a month ago remain on track, with irrigation system setup and turf planting currently in progress.
The Cabinet Secretary additionally disclosed that governmental authorities are in discussions with CAF regarding the proposed addition of 61 skyboxes at Kasarani Stadium.
According to an evaluation by Sports Kenya, implementing the suggestion in its present configuration would disrupt vital existing infrastructure and essentially transform the venue into a new construction project, potentially impacting Kenya’s AFCON readiness schedules.
“The evaluation by Sports Kenya demonstrates that constructing the 61 skyboxes would necessitate substantial structural modifications to critical existing infrastructure at Kasarani. Altering the stadium at this juncture could jeopardize Kenya’s preparedness timelines, thus ongoing dialogues with CAF are focusing specifically on this aspect,” Mvurya explained.
The Cabinet Secretary also commended the increasing readiness of the national football team, Harambee Stars, stating that AFCON 2027 presents Kenya with an occasion to display both its organizational capabilities and athletic prowess to the global community.
He reaffirmed the administration’s preparedness and dedication to effectively host the continental championship.