Inside the Raila Odinga (Talanta) stadium: cost, progress, and the race to be ready for AFCON 2027
Kenya's new 60,000-seat stadium on Ngong Road is about 94% complete and due to be ready by 31 December. Its cost has risen to KSh45.8 billion. Here is how it is being paid for, what is inside, and the deadlines that matter.
The stadium rising at Jamhuri Grounds on Ngong Road, about 10km west of Nairobi's CBD, began life as Talanta Sports City Stadium. In December 2025, President Ruto announced it will be renamed the Raila Odinga International Stadium once complete.
The stadium at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 60,000 seats, with 52 executive suites |
| Cost | KSh45.8 billion, up from an earlier KSh35 billion estimate (officials blame taxes and other costs) |
| Builder | China Road and Bridge Corporation, with the KDF's engineers supervising |
| Construction began | March 2024 |
| Progress | About 94% overall; main stadium 95% (October 2026) |
| Target | Ready by 31 December 2026, then about three months of testing and commissioning |
| First match | Bayern Munich vs Ajax, 5 January 2027 |
How it is being paid for
Instead of borrowing directly, the project raised money on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. In July 2024, a special-purpose trust listed an infrastructure asset-backed security worth about KSh44.8 billion. Investors are repaid from money linked to the project over time. It is one of the most complex financing deals East Africa has seen.
What is inside
- A pitch built to international standards (105m × 68m), using a hybrid grass system.
- Solar panels and rainwater harvesting, with recycled water for non-drinking uses.
- A shield-shaped design inspired by the shield on Kenya's flag.
- Medical centres, VAR and goal-line technology, and outdoor training pitches.
The deadlines that matter
- 31 December 2026: construction due to finish.
- 5 January 2027: the Bayern–Ajax opening match, a live test of gates, security and transport. See our match explainer.
- April 2027: target for surrounding road works.
- 19 June – 17 July 2027: AFCON 2027, co-hosted with Uganda and Tanzania.
Related: Kenya's mega projects, tracked.
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