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Beyond Talanta stadium: Inside Ksh37.9B 10,000-seat indoor sports arena set to be built in Nairobi CBD
22nd September, 2026 10:53 AM
Nairobi is set to add another major sports and entertainment venue after Talanta Stadium, with a proposed Ksh38.1 billion indoor arena planned at Nairobi Railway City.
The 10,000-seat facility is part of a larger mixed-use sports and entertainment development planned on Kenya Railways land near Nairobi Railway Station.
Unlike Talanta Stadium, which is being developed as a large open-air football venue, the proposed arena will be enclosed and designed to host a range of events, including basketball games, concerts, conferences, exhibitions and cultural shows.
The development is being spearheaded by Zaria Group, co-founded by basketball executive Masai Ujiri the president and CEO of the Toronto Raptors, alongside Helios Sports & Entertainment Group.
A 10,000-seat arena
At the heart of the project will be a 10,000-capacity indoor arena designed as a multipurpose venue.
The facility is expected to accommodate sporting events, live concerts, conferences, exhibitions and other entertainment programmes.
Its enclosed design will provide an alternative to Nairobi’s outdoor stadiums, allowing events to take place in a controlled indoor environment.
The project draws inspiration from Zaria Group’s developments in Kigali, Rwanda, including the 10,000-seat BK Arena.
The Nairobi arena is also expected to be operated by QA Venue Solutions, which manages the Kigali facility.
Public spaces
The development will also include several outdoor spaces around the main buildings.
Plans provide for a public plaza, a green pedestrian boulevard, a sports park and an outdoor amphitheatre.
The sports park is expected to include outdoor courts, a fan park and other recreational facilities, while the amphitheatre will provide a smaller outdoor setting for performances and events.
Pedestrian areas will connect the arena with the hotel, apartments, retail spaces and other facilities within the development.
The design therefore envisions the project as a destination where visitors can spend time before and after events rather than simply attending a match or concert and leaving.
Jobs and business
The Ksh38.1 billion development is also expected to create employment and business opportunities.
Project documents estimate about 3,500 jobs during construction and around 1,500 permanent positions once the development becomes operational.
The developers have also projected thousands of temporary jobs linked to events hosted at the venue.
Beyond direct employment, the development is expected to create opportunities across hospitality, retail, entertainment, sports and conference-related businesses.
Lease signed
The project received a major boost on April 10, 2026, when Kenya Railways Corporation signed a long-term lease with Zaria Group for the development.
President Ruto witnessed the signing at State House, Nairobi.
The agreement was signed by Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga and Zaria Group co-founder Masai Ujiri.
Ruto did not sign the lease as a contracting party but witnessed the agreement between Kenya Railways and Zaria Group.
Approval still pending
Despite the lease agreement, the arena has not yet been constructed.
The project is still going through the environmental approval process, with the National Environment Management Authority handling the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment process.
The proposed development will occupy about 6.8 hectares within the wider 172-hectare Nairobi Railway City redevelopment zone.
If approved and constructed as proposed, the project will bring together a 10,000-seat indoor arena, hotel, serviced apartments, retail and office spaces, restaurants, a sports park, public plaza and outdoor amphitheatre.
The development would give Nairobi another major events venue following the construction of Talanta Stadium, while adding an indoor option for sports, concerts, conferences and other large-scale
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William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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