Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has become the latest political leader affiliated with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to pile pressure on President William Ruto to rename the under-construction Talanta Stadium after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Taking to X on Saturday morning, October 25, 2025, the Homa Bay Town MP said the purely football facility should be renamed after the late ODM leader upon completion. The stadium is in its final stages of completion ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Before his death, the former PM was a sports enthusiast, often present in stadia during international fixtures for both men’s and women’s national football teams. Raila was a common figure at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in August 2025, during the conclusion of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) alongside President William Ruto and other top government officials.

Kaluma urges Ruto

”President William Ruto, please name this Raila Odinga Stadium Talanta – ROST in honour of the greatest sports fan Kenya has ever had,” Kaluma argued.

Cherargei’s proposal

Kaluma’s proposal comes days after Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei also called for the same stadium in Nairobi to be renamed the “Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium” in tribute to the late former Prime Minister.

The proposal, shared on social media on October 24, 2025, coincided with the conclusion of the national mourning period for Odinga, who passed away on October 15, 2025, in India. Cherargei emphasised Odinga’s enduring contributions to democracy, human rights, devolution, and his passion for sports.

“Even as the national mourning period of the late Rt Hon. Raila Odinga comes to an end, we should name Talanta Stadium as Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium in honour of his celebrated legacy of democracy, rule of law, human rights, devolution and his love for sports.”

“The future of sports, especially for our youth, looks secure under President Ruto’s administration because of the modernisation of sports facilities across the country. Well done, President Ruto’s administration, and now we are almost ready for AFCON 2027,” Cherargei took to X.

Meanwhile, the late former Prime Minister already has a stadium named after him in Homa Bay County.