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Govt shares Raila Odinga International Stadium progress ahead of 2027 AFCON
19th August, 2026 02:30 PM
The Talanta Sports Complex in Nairobi is now more than 92 per cent complete, with the 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium emerging as the centrepiece of the development.
According to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, the project is expected to significantly expand Kenya’s capacity to host major international sporting events, with the stadium set to play a key role when Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Addressing journalists at the facility on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Mvurya said the main stadium is being developed to meet CAF Category 4 requirements and will feature modern spectator facilities, 52 skyboxes and dedicated infrastructure for the media, including press conference facilities, working areas and a media tribune.
The CS further added that the playing surface will use a hybrid system combining Monaco variety Bermuda grass with stitched synthetic fibres. The technology is intended to provide a durable and consistent surface suitable for high-level football and frequent use.
“As Kenya’s first purpose-built football stadium, Talanta is designed to meet CAF Category 4 standards, complemented by 52 luxury skyboxes, modern spectator facilities and a comprehensive media infrastructure featuring dedicated press conference facilities, media working areas and a media tribune designed for world-class coverage of major sporting events,” Mvurya said.
“At the heart of the main stadium will be a hybrid playing surface, combining Monaco variety Bermuda grass with stitched synthetic fibres to deliver greater durability, consistency and a high-quality, television-friendly playing surface.”
The wider Talanta Sports Complex will also include three additional pitches. Two will have athletics tracks, while another will be configured for both rugby and football. The facilities are expected to provide space for training, competitions and athlete development beyond major international fixtures.
The complex is also being fitted with entertainment and digital features, including a musical dancing fountain, LED façade lighting and digital advertising infrastructure.
Accessibility
Transport and access infrastructure are being developed alongside the sporting facilities. A railway station adjacent to the complex is under construction, while road improvement works are being undertaken within and around the site to improve traffic flow and accessibility.
The development will also include supporting power and service infrastructure designed to cater for the requirements of a modern international sporting venue.
The Raila Odinga International Stadium is expected to become one of the principal venues for AFCON 2027, when Kenya hosts the continental tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Beyond its role in the tournament, the Talanta Sports Complex is designed as a broader sporting hub, bringing together a major football stadium, training pitches, athletics facilities, media infrastructure and transport connections at one location.
With construction now past the 90 per cent mark, attention is turning to the final stages of work and preparations to make the facility ready for major sporting events.
The project is therefore poised to become an important addition to Kenya’s sporting infrastructure, particularly as the country prepares for the increased demands associated with hosting AFCON 2027, a tournament that will staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
