- MPs have raised questions over supporting infrastructure as Kenya prepares the new Talanta Stadium for AFCON 2027.
- The 60,000-seater facility is 94 per cent complete, with construction expected to be concluded by December 31.
- Attention is now shifting to transport, medical services, water, security and training facilities required for the continental tournament.
Kenya’s preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have entered a critical phase after lawmakers raised concerns over transport, medical services, water supply, security and training facilities at the new Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium in Nairobi.
The National Assembly Sports and Culture Committee, led by chairman Daniel Wanyama, inspected the 60,000-seater facility on Thursday as the country races to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements ahead of the tournament.
Project officials told the committee that construction was now 94 per cent complete, with the main stadium at 95 per cent, outdoor training facilities at 92 per cent and external works at 93 per cent.
The Ministry of Defence, which is overseeing the project, assured MPs that the remaining works would be completed by December 31, in line with the deadline set for the facility.
However, the inspection revealed that completing the structure is only part of the challenge, with the committee turning its attention to whether the stadium and surrounding infrastructure will be ready to handle tens of thousands of fans during the continental tournament.
Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna questioned the state of roads serving the stadium and asked how authorities planned to manage the movement of large crowds on match days.
He also sought details on medical preparedness, including the availability of hospitals close to the venue to attend to players, officials and spectators.
Turbo MP Janet Sitienei sought assurances that the stadium and its training facilities would meet CAF standards. She also raised concerns over water availability and urged the government to exploit AFCON as an opportunity to grow sports tourism.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, meanwhile, raised questions about governance issues within Football Kenya Federation and whether such disputes could affect the country’s preparations.
“Is there any potential threat from FKF that could undermine this great event that we have planned?” he asked.
Sports Kenya Director General Timothy Kilimo told the committee that work was underway to improve access roads, with the Kenya Urban Roads Authority undertaking upgrades expected to be completed by April.
He said internal roads were also being constructed and plans were in place to control the movement of pedestrians and vehicles, including seven designated drop-off points.
A railway terminus being constructed next to the stadium is expected to provide an additional transport option during major events.
Medical, water and accommodation plans
On medical preparedness, officials said CAF had inspected and approved hospitals located near the facility.
The hospitality sector has also been brought into the preparations, with the committee told that 210 hotels had applied to accommodate teams, officials and visitors. All the hotels had reportedly met the required qualification standards, creating the challenge of selecting the final facilities.
Lead project architect Major Engineer Victor King’e said the stadium had medical centres on every floor, while a larger medical facility on the ground floor would cater for emergencies and anti-doping requirements.
Water supply, another issue raised by MPs, is expected to be supported by a one-million-litre auxiliary tank supplied by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, two 60,000-litre backup tanks and two boreholes.
The stadium will also have eight generators capable of providing the 16-kilovolt supply required when operating at full capacity. Solar power has been incorporated to support external installations, including street lighting.
The project cost has risen to about Sh45.8 billion from an initial estimate of Sh35 billion, with government officials attributing the increase to taxes and other costs incurred during implementation.
The cost escalation has previously drawn scrutiny from Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, whose audit flagged the Sh10.85 billion increase from the Treasury-approved Sh35 billion figure.
Once construction is completed, the facility will undergo about three months of testing and commissioning before becoming fully operational.
Talanta Stadium is expected to host AFCON matches alongside Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Other facilities earmarked for training include Ulinzi Sports Complex, Lang’ata, Nyayo National Stadium and Police Sacco Stadium, as well as additional training grounds at Kasarani and Talanta.
The committee directed the project team to submit a detailed report showing the outstanding CAF requirements and Kenya’s progress in meeting each of them.
READ ALSO: Teamwork is multiplication: Why leaders must create more leaders through mentorship, shared authority and trust
Members are expected to continue their assessment at Kasarani, where they will inspect the progress of renovation works as the country steps up preparations for the 2027 tournament.
By Jeff Kirui
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
