Talanta Sports City Stadium Construction Gains Momentum, On Track for 2027 AFCON

President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing the Talanta Sports City stadium in time for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

During an inspection tour of the Jamhuri Grounds site on Friday, April 11, 2025, the President expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, noting that construction teams are working around the clock. “I am happy with the progress being made here. I am optimistic we’ll beat the December date,” he said, referring to the targeted completion timeline.

The Talanta Sports City, being constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), is planned as a 60,000-seat facility and one of Africa’s most modern stadiums. Its design includes a FIFA-standard football pitch, an athletics track, and rugby training grounds, making it a multi-purpose complex.

According to updates presented to the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture, the project is currently at 37 percent completion. A cabinet dispatch in March had placed progress at 40 percent, showing minor differences in reporting but still reflecting steady advancement.

The scale of the investment is significant. The stadium is budgeted at KSh 44.7 billion, with KSh 2 billion already disbursed to CRBC. To finance the project, the government has adopted a novel approach by listing the Linzi 003 Infrastructure Asset-Backed Security on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This has raised more than KSh 44 billion, a move President Ruto described as a landmark in market-based financing for public projects. Oversight has been assigned to the Ministry of Defence, a decision that has been praised for improving accountability and efficiency.

Construction has already generated visible economic benefits. About 3,300 workers are employed at the site, with 2,000 working during the day and 1,300 at night under a continuous 24-hour schedule. President Ruto framed the project as both an infrastructure milestone and a driver of job creation, linking it to broader government initiatives in affordable housing and markets that have created an estimated 250,000 jobs nationwide.

Beyond employment, the project carries symbolic and technical weight. Engineers are incorporating a cable-supported grid roof structure, described as the first of its kind in Africa. Officials have presented the stadium as a transformative development that will enhance Kenya’s international sporting profile while also providing local athletes with modern training facilities.

With less than three years remaining before AFCON 2027, the success of Talanta Sports City will depend on whether the rapid pace seen in early 2025 can be sustained. For Kenya, timely delivery is about more than meeting tournament requirements. It is also a test of credibility in executing large-scale infrastructure projects that combine ambition, financing innovation, and national pride.