Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya has provided an update on Talanta Sports City, Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani.The CS was speaking to the media after an inspection tour of Talanta Sports City along Ngong Road, Nairobi on Thursday 23 January to assess the progress of works there.Talanta Sports City is an ultra-modern, state-of-the-art stadium that is under construction as part of Kenya’s stadium infrastructure that will be used for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).Gor Mahia identify 5 positions that need strengthening in mid-season transfer windowMvurya expressed confidence in the pace of the ongoing works at the facility which is constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation and supervised by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Sports and is expected to be ready by the end of the year.“From what I have seen, we are in good shape to achieve completion by December this year so that we can be ready for the Africa Cup of Nations.I am happy with the progress here, as well as the other stadia being prepared for the African Nations Championships this August. This is good work, and we will be able to monitor the construction of this facility,” said Mvurya##NAJAVA_MECA_8650032##The stadium which will be a football and rugby stadium only- the first of its kind in the larger East African region will be a 60,000-seater upon completion.Additionally, Mvurya called on the continued public interest and oversight of the project by Kenyans as has been the case so far as a way of improving football standards in the country.“We are happy and we will keep piling the pressure to make sure work is done by December. I understand Kenyans are closely following because we will host CHAN in August and AFCON in 2027, so I want to assure them to keep following and piling the pressure to make sure that football in Kenya develops,” he remarked.Unsettled Ksh465 million-rated Harambee Stars midfielder misses Europa League actionTalanta City is expected to serve as Kenya’s main stadium for AFCON among the four that include Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Nyayo and Kasarani with the latter two also earmarked for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).Apart from the four, several other sporting facilities will be used as training grounds for AFCON including Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco Stadium, Kasarani Annex and Kirigiti Stadium.The former Kwale County Governor also provided an update on Kasarani Stadium which looked unfinished ahead of CHAN’s initial start date of February 2025.##NAJAVA_MECA_8650028##“They have already fixed the lights at Kasarani. The field has regenerated very well, including the grass as well as other things that were pending, so I think they have made good progress,” he revealed.Nyayo which was already approved for international use by CAF is also ready with only a little work remaining on the lighting according to the CS.“There is great progress. The grass, and the goalposts are ideal, and the dressing rooms are ready. The lights are still being fixed. Only one tower is being worked on in terms of height to make sure it is in mint condition,” he said.An inside look at newly refurbished Nyayo National Stadium ready for CHAN [VIDEO]The government is also working in partnership with county governments to facelift county stadiums like Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya and Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay with the CS emphasizing the importance of such works.“The projects we are doing to improve sports infrastructure in this country are very, very important,” he said.Kenya alongside Uganda and Tanzania won the bid to host both the 2024 CHAN and the 2027 AFCON and embarked on construction and rehabilitation of sporting facilities in readiness for the continental tournaments.##NAJAVA_MECA_8650055##Unlike Uganda and Tanzania Kenya had no CAF-approved stadium to host such matches but is now expected to have the most number of approved stadiums in both tournaments, two for CHAN and four for AFCON.CHAN which was initially set to begin in February 2025 was pushed to August 2025 to among others give more time for the host countries to be ready for the biennial tournament which will now take place after the conclusion of the FKF Premier League season.Harambee Stars has been pooled in Group A alongside Morocco, DR Congo and Angola.
