Talanta Stadium: Government Reveals New Name of Soon-To-Be Completed Football Arena

President William Ruto has promised to name the Talanta Stadium after the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga while revealing plans to further upgrade Nyayo.

President William Ruto has yielded to calls to rename the Talanta Stadium after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Ruto has come under increasing pressure to honour the late Odinga by naming the soon-to-completed 60,000-seater football arena after him following his contribution to the expansion of democratic space in the country.

The calls started during Odinga’s funeral ceremony in October and during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also issued a plea to the President to consider naming the stadium after the political maverick.

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During his address to the public, Ruto confirmed that the stadium will bear the name of Odinga.

Ruto Makes Big Promise on Talanta Stadium

“We are completing Talanta Stadium in Jamhuri. You know the big job being done, I have heard what the governor [Sakaja] has said,” Ruto told the crowd. “That the Talanta Stadium be given which name? Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium. I have heard you and when we finish, we will do so,” the Head of State promised.

The Talanta Stadium is due to be ready in April 2026 and is the main venue earmarked to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations which Kenya will co-host alongside neighbours Tanzania and Uganda.

It is one of a kind state-of-the-art football-only stadium that will be the epicentre for Harambee Stars games when it is opened.

Meanwhile, Ruto also promised further upgrades on Nyayo Stadium, saying the whole of it will have a canopy, just like Kasarani Stadium with work set to start in January 2026.