•“We expect to officially open the facility at the end of 2025 ready for the Afcon 2027 extravaganza,” he noted.
•Namwamba was speaking during the Joint Stakeholders East Africa Pamoja 2027 Afcon forum In Mombasa.
Image: FILE
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has said construction works on the new Talanta Sports Stadium will commence next month as preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begin.
The CS said they hope to complete the facility at the end of 2025 just a year before the Africa Cup of Nations extravaganza, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the Pamoja Bid.
“We expect to officially open the facility at the end of 202 in readiness for the Afcon 2027 extravaganza,” noted Ababu.
He said the facility, which will be football-tailored along Ngong Road will be a 60000-seater facility.
Namwamba said he has just finalised the nitty-gritty with the Ministry of Defence as far as procurement issues are concerned.
Namwamba was speaking during a Joint Stakeholders East Africa Pamoja 2027 Afcon forum In Mombasa.
“I was at the Department of Defence with my Internal Security counterpart Aden Duale on Monday to finalise the approvals and I am satisfied with the level of preparedness,” he added.
The CS admitted that the groundbreaking for the Talanta Stadium has taken longer than they expected but all was geared at ensuring all is perfect at the rollout.
He hoped to have renovations at Nyayo Stadium, Moi Stadium, Kasarani, and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret begin at the same time but they were equally delayed on the same grounds.
“This is why we decided to keep the facilities open for the time being — for Premier League matches and other events,” he added.
He noted that contingent measures for alternative venues have been put in place to ensure everything runs smoothly after the closure of the facilities.
Once the renovations start, he said, KPL matches will be shifted to Ulinzi Stadium along Langata Road and Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu — currently under rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the CS revealed that Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega and Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu have been added to the Afcon package and are, therefore, also earmarked for rehabilitation.
The two facilities will host the Cecafa Under-18 boys tournament between November 25 and December 9 and will use the tournament to gauge the standards of the venues.
Ababu said they expect more East African countries will benefit from Afcon.
“I am sure teams will want to camp in Rwanda and Ethiopia and that is how many other countries will benefit from this festival,” he added.
He reiterated their commitment to hosting the event and urged doubting Thomases to brace up for an experience like no other, adding that the showpiece presents an opportunity to invigorate the dream of integration after failing on several occasions.
He said he admires the competition between the three hosts in terms of infrastructure, saying at the end of Afcon, the region will be at a whole new level in terms of facilities.
His counterpart from Zanzibar, Tabia Maulid, said she is happy all three East African countries are committed to the course and is looking forward to offering Africa a whole new experience.
The forum was attended by all key stakeholders including football bosses in the three East African countries and Permanent Secretaries from Kenya and Tanzania.