Talanta Stadium set for first matches in November or December

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya inspected the Raila Odinga International Stadium at the Talanta Sports Complex on Wednesday and confirmed the facility is advancing into its final stages.

Earlier in the day the CS stated the 60,000-seater stadium was over 92 per cent complete. A later update from the inspection put the main stadium and most auxiliary works at 94 per cent completion. The project has moved firmly into the finishing stages.

Training pitches. /Handout

The main pitch is ready and awaiting stitching. Focus has shifted to the two remaining training facilities, currently at 50 per cent and 40 per cent completion. A third training ground includes a 1,500-seat pavilion.

Mvurya said Kenya could host opening matches at the stadium anytime in November or December, even before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Early matches would allow organisers to test the facility and address any issues ahead of the continental tournament, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

The stadium is designed to meet CAF Category 4 standards. It features 53 luxury skyboxes, modern spectator facilities and comprehensive media infrastructure, including dedicated press conference rooms, media working areas and a media tribune.

Inside Talanta Stadium. /Handout

At the heart of the stadium is a hybrid playing surface that combines Monaco variety Bermuda grass with stitched synthetic fibres. The surface is intended to deliver durability, consistency and a high-quality finish suitable for television broadcasts.

Giant LED screens, LED ring lights and a sound system have already been installed and are undergoing testing. Engineers are also completing a musical dancing fountain, dynamic LED façade lighting and integrated digital advertising infrastructure.

Of the 91 turnstiles planned, 60 have been completed. Lifts are operational. Work continues on skyboxes, perimeter areas, landscaping and external facilities. Some adjustments may still be required following CAF recommendations, particularly around the Presidential Pavilion.

Finishes at the stadium. /Handout

Supporting infrastructure is advancing in parallel. An adjacent railway station is under construction to provide dedicated connectivity to Nairobi. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority is undertaking road works within and around the complex. A dedicated power substation and other services are being integrated.

The cost of the stadium has risen to about Sh45.8 billion. Mvurya noted that no investment of this scale in an international stadium has been made since Kasarani in 1987. The government is also developing 32 additional sports facilities across the country and has asked the football technical team to prepare a roadmap for Harambee Stars ahead of Afcon 2027.

The complex is expected to support more than match days, with plans for ICT hubs and recording studios so the facility remains active beyond football fixtures.