Government provides positive update over progress of Kasarani and Talanta stadia ahead of AFCON 2027

Government provides positive update over progress of Kasarani and Talanta stadia ahead of AFCON 2027

Mark Kinyanjui 16:30 - 17.07.2024

The Government has provided a positive update over the progression of both the Kasarani and Talanta Sports City stadia ahead of AFCON 2027.

Sports Permanent Secretary Peter Tum has provided an update on the progress of the renovations taking place at the Kasarani Stadium and the progression of the proposed Talanta Sports City.

Kenya, alongside neighbors Tanzania and Uganda, will be co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, making it the first time the continental showpiece has been hosted in East Africa.

Recently, a report by CAF deemed no stadia in the country good enough to honour continental and international assignments, raising doubts about the seriousness of the country at wanting to host one of the biggest tournaments in the world.

However, Tum, who is in charge of the sports docket on an interim basis as President William Ruto reconstitutes his cabinet having sacked the previous incumbents, including Ababu Namwamba, provided an update on the status of the ground.

Tum has revealed that aside from the three stadia being renovated for use in time for the tournament, CAF has also recommended that four training grounds are also renovated in order to provide the teams and referees that will be participating sufficient facilities to prepare for the tournament.

“We are doing very well as a country. What came up is that other than the three stadia we required earlier, they have now decided that we should have four training grounds,” Tum told members of the media.

“As the ministry, we had already earmarked Talanta Stadium as the main host for the AFCON and put four training grounds there.

“In Kasarani, we have also earmarked to have the training grounds we developed earlier, but we want to improve them to be ready for 2027.

“We are at 35 percent completion rate as it stands, but promised all stadiums will be ready by December 2025 as required.”

Tum has also revealed the plans for the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, which is being used primarily as a back up for the two main arenas in Nairobi.

“There is also the facility in Eldoret we will be using for AFCON. We have identified another four training facilities in the same area which we will undertake renovations.”

Tum further revealed that the government’s priority is to ready the stadia before commencing the renovations for the training grounds, with the stipulated deadline set at December 2025.

"We will not rush the renovations of training grounds. First we have to complete the stadium. Generally, we are on top of things as a country  and there is no course for alarm.”

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