Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has said Kenya is making good progress in its preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following an inspection tour of the Talanta, Raila Odinga International Stadium.
Mvurya said his latest visit was a follow-up to an earlier inspection conducted in January 2026, aimed at assessing progress and confirming the implementation of requirements agreed with the Confederation of African Football.
He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the stadium, noting that the facility will be one of the main venues for AFCON 2027.
According to the CS, Kenya has moved beyond paying the hosting fee and is now focused on delivering the infrastructure required for the tournament.
“Away from having paid the hosting fee, we have now seriously embarked on preparing our infrastructure,” he said.
Talanta Stadium Completion
Mvurya announced that two Talanta training grounds had been handed over to contractors and are expected to be completed within two months.
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The third training ground is already under development, with grass planted and additional athletics facilities, including tartan tracks, planned for the sites.
He said the three training grounds will form part of the infrastructure that teams will use during AFCON 2027 preparations and competition activities.
The CS said the main stadium is progressing well, with most of the remaining work focused on mechanical and electrical installations. The pitch has already been laid, and teams are monitoring the grass to ensure it meets CAF standards.
According to Mvurya, the government expects the main works inside Talanta Stadium and part of the auxiliary infrastructure to be completed by the end of July 2026. Landscaping and other finishing works are also underway.
“We are monitoring progress so that by the end of July, the main works inside the stadium and part of the auxiliary works should have been completed.”
“So I just want to tell Kenyans that we are on schedule on the preparations for AFCON,” he added.
Also Read: CAF Weighs AFCON 2027 Postponement to 2028 Over Host Readiness Concerns
Supporting Infrastructure and CAF Oversight
Mvurya added that supporting infrastructure around the stadium is also advancing. A one-million-liter water tank has already been installed, while work on roads, drainage and the perimeter wall is ongoing.
He further noted that preparations are being coordinated by the Local Organizing Committee, chaired by Nicholas Musonye, and that a CAF technical officer is already stationed in Nairobi to monitor progress and provide regular reports.
“We have stationed our teams here. The chair of the Local Organizing Committee of AFCON, Mr Musonye, is here, and we also have a technical officer from CAF who is already here in Nairobi,” he confirmed.
The CS said Kenya remains on schedule with both construction and non-construction requirements, including operational planning and the activation of various AFCON 2027 subcommittees tasked with overseeing different aspects of the tournament preparations.
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