Talanta Stadium takes shape as Afcon beckons

Talanta Stadium under construction. /PCS

Talanta Stadium is steadily taking shape, with construction advancing on schedule as Kenya gears up to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The stadium, located past Dagoretti Corner at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road, sits about 10 kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district.

Once complete, it will be one of the key venues for the tournament, complementing the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which has a 60,000-seat capacity, and the 15,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium, also in Nairobi.

Talanta Stadium is designed to accommodate 60,000 spectators and will be dedicated exclusively to football and rugby.

Unlike many traditional multipurpose stadia, it will not include an athletics track.

Instead, athletics fields are being developed adjacent to the facility to cater to track and field events.

Kenya will host the 2027 Afcon alongside Tanzania and Uganda, marking the first time the East African region has been awarded Africa’s most prestigious football tournament since the championship was inaugurated in 1957.

President William Ruto, who presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on March 1, 2024, has reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering the facility on time.

“Beyond sports, it will be a hub for concerts, cultural festivals and national celebrations, strengthening Kenya’s sporting and creative economy,” he said on Thursday.

The design of the stadium, initially envisioned as a “shield-like” structure, has since been modified into a contemporary, fully covered arena featuring advanced lighting for night events.

Talanta Stadium under construction. /PCS

Ruto said the new facility is being built to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards required for international competitions.

Construction is being undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

The project, according to documents presented to the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture on April 9, 2025, is expected to cost Sh44.7 billion.

Work on the stadium is projected to conclude in December 2025, giving the country almost two years to prepare the facility for the tournament.

Once complete, Talanta Sports City, as it is also known, is expected to serve as a landmark venue not only for Afcon but also for future global sporting and entertainment events, positioning Nairobi as a hub for Africa’s growing sports and cultural economy.