The Kenyan government is set to transfer the responsibility for the construction and renovation of four stadiums to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). This decision holds particular significance as the host countries for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be announced on September 27 of this year.
Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Youth Affairs, and the Arts, Ababu Namwamba, will preside over the handover of the construction of a new stadium, Talanta Sports City, at the Jamhuri Sports Complex along Ngong Road, Nairobi, starting at 9 am.
Following this, Namwamba will proceed to Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, to oversee their renovations at 11 am and 12 noon, respectively.
The formal handover of Kip Keino Stadium is scheduled for 2 pm, with a stern warning from Namwamba that these stadiums will be exclusively allocated for sports activities in the future.
Kenya is bidding to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania, while individual bids have been submitted by Algeria, Botswana, and Egypt. Namwamba, expressing confidence in Kenya’s bid, made these remarks during the “Hatma Ya Michezo Nchini” show on Nation Television (NTV) at 7 pm, hosted by Frederick Muitiriri on Monday.
Notably, KDF previously demonstrated its capability by constructing the 10,000-seater Ulinzi Sports Complex at Lang’ata Barracks within an impressive timeframe. The project, initiated with the groundbreaking ceremony in October 2020, was officially opened by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 13, 2022.
Namwamba has instructed Sports Kenya, the entity responsible for managing sports stadiums in the country, to prohibit any non-sports-related functions at these venues. This directive follows a recent religious crusade, named the “Holy Ghost Fire Conference,” which took place at Nyayo National Stadium and caused damage to the playing surface currently undergoing renovation. South African-born American evangelist Rodney Morgan Howard-Browne was the key speaker at this event.
The decision to allow this crusade sparked public outrage, especially as the stadium had only recently been reopened for Kakamega Homeboyz’ CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round clash against Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya on August 27.
Nyayo National Stadium remains one of the designated venues for the joint bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.