President William Ruto has aimed a slight dig at the naysayers after inspecting construction works at the gigantic Talanta Stadium in Nairobi, 60,000 capacity venue earmarked for the 2027 TotaEnergies Africa Cup of Nations showpiece.
Speaking while touring the sporting facility on Saturday morning, February 7, 2026, Ruto assured the country and football enthusiasts that they will marvel at what the stadium has to offer.
Ruto chides critics
”Wangwana, mambo? They were busy treating doubts, and we trusted the process. Now look, see for yourselves, Talanta Stadium is right here. Hii ni noma sana, mtapenda,’ Ruto said.
Ruto’s inspection at the Talanta Stadium, set to be renamed Raila Odinga International Stadium upon completion later in the year, comes against the backdrop of Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya directing the adoption of a quasi-private management model as Kenya moves to develop a comprehensive framework to guide the management of stadiums across the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, via X, Mvurya confirmed that he reviewed the progress of the technical committee tasked with drafting the Stadium Management Framework, which will apply to national, county and community-level facilities.
Following the briefing, the CS said the new model will strategically open up stadium operations to private-sector participation in a bid to improve professionalism, boost revenue generation and guarantee long-term sustainability.
Making stadiums viable
“The approach is designed to enhance professional management, unlock revenue streams and ensure sustainability across all tiers of stadiums, in line with the policy direction of President William Ruto,” Mvurya said.
He noted that many public stadiums continue to struggle with poor maintenance, limited commercial utilisation and operational inefficiencies, challenges the new framework seeks to address by tapping into private-sector expertise and investment.
Once completed, the framework is expected to outline clear guidelines on how private firms can partner with government entities in managing, maintaining, and commercially exploiting sports facilities.
According to Mvurya, the model will provide a structured pathway for innovation and efficiency while ensuring that stadiums meet global standards and remain financially viable.
Meanwhile, Talanta Stadium is poised to stage key matches of the beckoning 2027 AFCON, Africa’s premier football showpiece that will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
