President William Ruto has voiced confidence in the ongoing construction of Nairobi’s Talanta Sports City, emphasizing its critical role in Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Speaking during a site visit on Friday, Ruto expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the 60,000-seater stadium, which is earmarked as a key venue for the continental tournament.
“I am happy with the progress being made here. I am optimistic we’ll beat the December date,” the President said, referring to the expected completion timeline.
The President noted that the Talanta Sports City, which includes a football pitch, an athletics field, and rugby training grounds, will be a central piece of infrastructure as East Africa collectively prepares to host AFCON for the first time in history.
According to Ruto, the construction project has so far created employment for 3,300 workers — with 2,000 on day shifts and 1,300 on night duty — reflecting the government’s broader push to create jobs through infrastructure development.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, who appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture a day earlier, disclosed that the stadium is 37 percent complete.
She also revealed that the total construction cost is KSh.44.7 billion, with KSh.2 billion already disbursed to the contracted Chinese firm. The government expects the project to be fully completed by February 28, 2026.
President Ruto reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrading sports facilities across the country as part of efforts to nurture local talent and enhance Kenya’s international sports standing.
“This is how we are going to build our nation — by harnessing knowledge, skills, and the expertise of our youth,” he said.
The Talanta Sports City is one of the flagship projects in the lead-up to AFCON 2027 and is expected to significantly boost Kenya’s sports infrastructure and international hosting capacity.
