{{Short description|Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya}} {{Use British English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox venue | name = Raila Odinga Stadium | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = Talanta Sports City.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = | fullname = Raila Odinga Stadium | former_names = Talanta City Stadium (planning/construction phase) | location = [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]] | pushpin_map = Kenya | coordinates = {{coord|01|18|22|S|36|45|01|E|type:landmark_region:KE|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = 31 March 2024 | built = 2024 - 2025 (Expected) | opened = December 2025 (Expected) | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = [[Government of Kenya]] | operator = | surface = [[GrassMaster]] | scoreboard = | cost = US$250 million (Estimate) | architect = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = [[China Road and Bridge Corporation]] | main_contractors = | capacity = 60,000 (Expected) | suites = 52 | record_attendance = | dimensions = {{convert|115|x|74|yd|m|abbr=on}} | acreage = | tenants = [[Kenya national football team]]<br/> [[2027 Africa Cup of Nations]] | website = }}
'''Raila Odinga International Stadium''', also '''Talanta Sports City''', is a [[sports stadium]] under construction in the city of [[Nairobi]], the capital of [[Kenya]]. It is intended to be used during the [[2027 Africa Cup of Nations]] football tournament. The stadium is one of the stadia that Kenya plans to use during the tournament, that will be jointly hosted by [[Tanzania]], [[Uganda]] and Kenya.<ref name="1R">{{cite web| url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/in-pictures/2024-03-01-photos-ruto-presides-over-groundbreaking-of-talanta-sports-city/ |title= Ruto presides over groundbreaking of Raila Odinga Stadium |date=1 March 2024 |work=[[The Star (Kenya)]] |author=Lindwe Danflow |access-date=27 March 2024 | location=Nairobi, Kenya}}</ref><ref name="2R">{{cite web| work=[[China Daily]] |date=3 March 2024 |access-date=27 March 2024 | url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202403/03/WS65e46947a31082fc043ba440.html |title=Raila Odinga International Stadium to uplift Kenya's quest for a continental sporting hub |author=Rading Gerro | location=Beijing, China}}</ref> On 12 December 2025, during the 62nd [[Jamhuri Day]] celebrations, President [[William Ruto]] promised that the government would approve the renaming of Talanta Stadium to [[Raila Odinga]] International Stadium as a commemorative gesture; however, the renaming requires several steps and will take effect upon the stadium's completion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oduor |first=Frankline |date=12 December 2025 |title=Ruto Approves Renaming of Talanta Stadium to Raila Odinga International Stadium |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/119010-ruto-approves-renaming-talanta-stadium-raila-odinga-international-stadium |website=Kenyans.co.ke |access-date=24 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228052913/https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/119010-ruto-approves-renaming-talanta-stadium-raila-odinga-international-stadium |archive-date=28 December 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Location== The stadium is located past Dagoretti Corner in the neighborhood known as "Jamhuri Grounds" or Posta Grounds, along Ngong Road, next to Polo Grounds and Jamhuri ASK Showground approximately {{convert|10|km|0}} west of the [[central business district]] of Nairobi.<ref name="3R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kenyatta+International+Convention+Centre/Talanta+KE.+Sports+City+Stadium,+MQV2%2BG4,+Nairobi,+Kenya/@-1.3151795,36.7652668,5189m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x182f11747e756f41:0x146973898c119b47!2m2!1d36.823103!2d-1.288693!1m5!1m1!1s0x182f1b0055f557f1:0x1246ee0329b63737!2m2!1d36.7503485!2d-1.3062483?entry=ttu |title=Road Distance Between Kenyatta International Convention Center, Nairobi, Kenya And Talanta Sports Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>
==Overview== Raila Odinga International Stadium, with a planned capacity of 60,000, is intended for football and rugby matches. There will be no athletics track, although athletics fields will be erected adjacent to the stadium.
The primary purpose of this stadium is to be part of the host stadia that Kenya will use to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in a tri-state-host tournament to be held in the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Other Kenyan stadia include the 60,000 seater [[Moi International Sports Centre]] in [[Kasarani]] and the 15,000 seater [[Nyayo National Stadium]], also in Nairobi.<ref name="4R">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/2024-03-05-how-talanta-stadium-will-look-like-after-completion/ |title=How Raila Odinga International Stadium will look like after completion |work=[[The Star (Kenya)]] |date=5 March 2024 |author=Tony Mballa |access-date=27 March 2024 |location=Nairobi, Kenya}}</ref><ref name="5R">{{cite web| date=14 March 2024 | url=https://www.constructionbriefing.com/news/cccc-breaks-ground-on-kenya-s-talanta-sports-city/8035933.article |title=CCCC breaks ground on Kenya's Talanta Sports City |author=Neil Gerrard | work=Constructionbriefing.com |access-date=27 March 2024 |location=London, United Kingdom}}</ref>
In September 2023, the [[Confederation of African Football]] (CAF), announced the '''East Africa Pamoja''' bid by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as the winning bid to host the 2027 AFCON tournament. The bid beat out other bids by other countries including [[Egypt]], [[Senegal]], [[Botswana]] and [[Algeria]].<ref name="6R">{{cite web| work=[[The EastAfrican]] | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/ea-football-federations-say-region-will-be-ready-for-afcon-2027-4428164 | title=Write up for Afcon 2027 joint preparedness resolved |date=9 November 2023 |author=Mohamed Issa |access-date=27 March 2024 | location=Nairobi, Kenya}}</ref> At the bidding stage the [[Football Kenya Federation|Kenya Football Federation]] nominated the three Nairobi national stadiums and the 10,000 seater [[Kipchoge Keino Stadium]] in [[Eldoret]].<ref name="7R">{{cite web|work=Construction Kenya |date=16 March 2024 |url=https://www.constructionkenya.com/11907/talanta-sports-city-stadium/ |title=China's CRBC Begins Work on Talanta Stadium | author=Miriam Nkirote |access-date=27 March 2024 | location=Nairobi, Kenya}}</ref>
In March 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a report stating it was yet to meet the necessary standards (Category 4) for hosting the tournament.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ouma |first=Brian |title=None of Kenya’s stadiums meet Afcon 2027 standards — Caf report |date=27 March 2026 |url=https://www.citizen.digital/article/none-of-kenyas-stadiums-meet-afcon-2027-standards-caf-report-n379771 |work=Citizen Digital |access-date=31 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260331154447/https://www.citizen.digital/article/none-of-kenyas-stadiums-meet-afcon-2027-standards-caf-report-n379771 |archive-date=31 March 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Construction== The construction contract was awarded to [[China Road and Bridge Corporation]] (CRBC), a subsidiary of [[China Communications Construction Company]] (CCCC), a [[China|Chinese]], majority [[state-owned]], publicly traded multinational engineering and construction conglomerate. The contract price has not been disclosed. The supervising engineer is the [[Kenya Defence Forces|KDF Engineering Department]]. Construction started on 1 March 2024 and is planned to last approximately two years.<ref name="7R"/> Later it was revealed that the project was a [[public private partnership]] (PPP) arrangement between the [[government of Kenya]] and a yet-to-be identified third party.<ref name="8R">{{cite web|url=https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/football/talanta-hela-stadium-is-a-ppp-project-sports-ps-tum-says-4546988 |title=Talanta Hela Stadium is a PPP project, Sports PS Tum says |work=[[Daily Nation]] |date=6 March 2024 |author=Victor Otieno |access-date=27 March 2024 |location=Nairobi, Kenya}}</ref>
In July 2024, Linzi Finco 003 Trust, a subsidiary of Liaison Group, listed a KSh 44.79 billion infrastructure asset-backed security on the [[Nairobi Securities Exchange]] to fund the construction of the stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Njuguna |first=Harry |date=2025-07-13 |title=Linzi FinCo Lists KSh 44.79B Infrastructure-Backed Bond to Fund Talanta Sports City |url=https://kenyanwallstreet.com/linzi-finco-lists-ksh-44-79b-infrastructure-backed-bond-to-fund-talanta-sports-city/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=The Kenyan Wall Street - Business, Markets News, Investing Data & AI Tools |language=en-US}}</ref> The bond is backed by future revenues of the project, and has been dubbed "one of the most sophisticated structured financings in East Africa."
In January 2026, the Defense PS Patrick Mariru stated that the bulk of the work was done, bringing the project to its final phase with 80% completion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-24 |title=60,000-seater Talanta Stadium almost complete |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/football/60-000-seater-talanta-stadium-almost-complete--5336656 |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=Daily Nation |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://footballkenya.org/ Football Kenya Federation Official Website] * [https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2024/03/01/talanta-stadium-will-not-be-a-white-elephant-project-says-cs-ababu/ Talanta Stadium Will Not Be A ‘White Elephant’ Project, Says CS Ababu]
{{2027 Africa Cup of Nations stadiums}} {{Kenya national football team|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Talanta Sports Stadium}} [[Category:Football venues in Kenya]] [[Category:National stadiums|Kenya]] [[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Kenya]] [[Category:2024 establishments in Kenya]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 2025]] [[Category:Sports venues in Nairobi]]