President William Ruto has said the government will complete close to 28 new stadiums across Kenya within the next year as he intensifies his nationwide sports infrastructure programme aimed at boosting talent development and expanding access to modern facilities.

Speaking on Sunday evening, June 7, 2026, during a State House Nairobi event where he hosted Gor Mahia FC after their 2025/2026 SportPesa Premier League title win, the President said the ongoing construction programme is designed to ensure no region is left behind in sports development.

“In fact, in the next year, we will have completed close to 28 new stadia in Kenya, including stadia in places where people may think that they are not a priority,” Ruto said.

The President said the stadium projects are spread across the country, naming Garissa, Wajir, Mombasa, Ol Kalou, Mandera, Kisumu and Kakamega among areas benefiting from new or ongoing facilities.

He added that some projects, including Bungoma Stadium, have already been completed, while others are being fast-tracked under government supervision.

“We are building a stadium in Garissa. We are building one in Wajir, in Mombasa, in Ol Kalou, in Mandera, in Kisumu, in Kakamega. We have just finished one in Bungoma,” he said.

Ruto also confirmed that the government has directed the Ministry of Sports to complete stalled or delayed projects, including the Mombasa stadium, as part of the broader infrastructure rollout.

Stadiums as ‘commercial ecosystems’

The President said the new stadiums are not designed as simple sports fields but as multi-purpose commercial hubs that can operate daily beyond match days.

“When we build a stadium, it is not just a running track and a play field. It is more than that. It is a business ecosystem,” he said.

He explained that the facilities will include training grounds, gyms, restaurants, shops, ICT hubs and conference spaces to generate income and sustain operations.

“It will be a whole commercial ecosystem that then is underpinned by a stadium… We are building a commercial ecosystem that supports sports and gives sports visibility,” he added.

Shifting stadium promises and earlier targets

The latest pledge builds on earlier commitments. In August 2025, Ruto announced plans to build 25 new stadiums ahead of Kenya’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Uganda and Tanzania. Progress has been mixed. \

Some projects have advanced rapidly – such as the Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui (reportedly 96% complete by October 2025) and the Wajir 10,000-seater stadium, built by the Kenya Defence Forces. Others, however, have faced delays, redesigns, or funding issues. Recent groundbreakings include the Ksh1 billion Gusii Stadium in Kisii (April 2026) and a new 10,000-seater stadium in Kilifi (May 2026).

The programme has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that world-class facilities are crucial for hosting AFCON 2027, nurturing talent, and boosting local economies through sports tourism and commercial activity.

Critics, including Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, question the priorities.

“Zero work. Working tirelessly for nothing. Empower that money with a football academy to have people who can use those fields and reform football federations,” Salasya posted on X.

Questions also linger over long-term maintenance, utilisation rates, and whether infrastructure alone will deliver sustainable sports development without parallel investments in coaching, youth academies, and federation reforms.