Talanta Stadium: Supporting Infrastructure Needed to Get AFCON 2027 Venue Running

With the Talanta Stadium over 80 per cent complete, the government is keen to ensure key supporting infrastructure is in place not just at the right time but also meets the standards.

Following an inspection tour that covered the stadium’s interior and exterior works, including the two main outdoor pitches on Friday, Defence Principal Secretary Dr Patrick Mariru said most critical functions have been completed, including the superstructures supporting the facade and terraces where the seats will be installed.

However, to make it fully functional, the stadium will need not just to have a pitch that meets FIFA and CAF standards but many other things in and around it that Kenya must get right for a great 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

“It is not just this stadium, we need the issues of roads, water, security all these, we will work to ensure we deliver at this stadium,” said Mariru.

“We will ensure we have the stadium, roads, water, energy, security and ICT, everything else that serves this stadium,” he further said, emphasizing the need to have all the supporting infrastructure ready for a good experience during and after the 2027 tournament.

The road network connecting to the stadium is considered key given traffic snarl-ups experienced on Ngong Road although the government has already announced plans to build a railway line connecting to Nyayo and Talanta.

Constant power supply will also be needed given night matches will be played while ICT will be critical at how a number of equipment will work at the stadium.

“All the infrastructure that is being put in place, both what has been done at Kasarani and training pitches, including Nyayo is up to the standards expected,” Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo also weighed in.

Besides Talanta, Kasarani Stadium is the other host venue earmarked for AFCON 2027 matches in Kenya while Nyayo Stadium, Ulinzi Complex and Kasarani Annex will be among the training facilities in the country.