Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has expressed pleasure with the construction works at the Talanta Stadium. The venue is set to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.Speaking during a site visit on Thursday, the CS instilled confidence that the stadium would be completed as scheduled. The facility is expected to be ready by December 2025.##NAJAVA_MECA_7950526##”Good progress with the excavation work, preparation of the grounds has been completed. Now it’s very, very heavy-duty excavation of the foundation. We have a good schedule, we have timelines, and looking at the pace of work going on here, no doubt that we are well within our set timeline,” he remarked.If successful, it will be the first time the country is putting up a new international public stadium since the construction of the 60-seater Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani 36 years ago and the Nyayo National Stadium 40 years ago.The design unveiled by the government shows the facility will have changing rooms for teams and match officials. It will comprise seven changing rooms.It is also a tech-savvy facility designed for top-level live TV broadcasts, VAR, and goal-line technology comparable to the very best international stadia across the world.Step by step, day by day… #AFCON27#TalantaHela pic.twitter.com/ZF5Do40JzU— Hon Ababu-Namwamba, EGH🇰🇪 (@AbabuNamwamba) March 14, 2024 The project is also in sync with the green agenda and the Ministry has paid attention to renewable energy and made deliberate efforts to fuse development with botanical gardens and green spaces.Beyond AFCON, the facility will be turned into an economic hub to help generate revenue in terms of the naming rights by handing it over to professional management.At the same time, Masinde Muliro Kanduyi Stadium in Bungoma is taking shape. The stadium is scheduled to host the upcoming Madaraka Day celebrations and the contractors are racing against time to have it ready for the national holiday.Apart from the holiday, the CS noted that the stadium would host international football tournaments.WXC Belgrade 24: Kiplimo, Cheptegei lead Team Uganda“We are looking to get Masinde Muliro stadium ready not only as a host of this year’s Madaraka Day Celebrations but also raise it to CAF standards in readiness to host key sporting events in the future,” CS Ababu noted.The upgraded stadium will feature a 2000-seat VIP pavilion, 3000-seat spectator terraces, and modern facilities including changing rooms, offices, staff amenities, public restrooms, medical centers, and a VIP lounge.Meanwhile, renovations are also underway at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, another key venue for the upcoming AFCON 2027.
