President William Ruto has announced that the construction of Talanta Stadium will be completed by January, paving the way for its use ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the government accelerates investments in sports infrastructure across the country.

Speaking on Thursday, January 1, 2026, while attending the finals of the Kakamega Governor’s Cup 2025 at Bukhungu Stadium, President Ruto said the facility, earmarked to host major continental matches, will be ready for use in the coming weeks.

The facility, upon completion, will be named after the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“Kwanza ile Talanta Stadium, ambayo nimesema ibadilishwe jina iitwe Raila Odinga International Stadium, tutaikamilisha hii January. This January, it will be complete, na tutaanza kuitumia tukingojea 2027 itumike katika michezo ile ya AFCON,” Ruto said.

Expanded sports infrastructure

Ruto emphasised that the expanded sports infrastructure will support athletes across multiple disciplines, from football and athletics to other emerging sports, while also positioning Kenya as a competitive host for international tournaments.

“Na sio hiyo pekee yake, tunajenga stadium 21 kwa sababu vijana wetu wa Kenya tunataka kuhakikisha kwamba ile talanta wako nayo ya michezo ya aina mbali mbali iweze kuwasaidia tukiwa na sports infrastructure, so that we can tap in the talent,” he said.

We are building 21 modern stadia across the country to nurture the sporting talents of our young people. As part of this commitment, the Talanta Sports City Stadium will be completed later this year, delivering world-class sports infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/BedZS6FFE6

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 1, 2026

Projected completion time

The facility’s completion had been projected to be in March 2026 after being revised from the initial December 2025 deadline.

The 60,000-seater facility, which is nearing completion, is also set to have a shopping mall and hotel.

Meanwhile, the construction work at the stadium has reached its exterior with the installation of the stadium emblem, while interior canopy works are nearing completion. The playing surface is also being levelled to meet international standards.

Talanta Stadium, located in Nairobi’s Jamhuri, will also have seven modern changing rooms, VIP lounges, fully equipped media centres and VAR booths integrated with goal-line technology.