As part of preparations to host a successful Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) event next year, the government has disclosed plans to invite a high-level Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspection team to evaluate the status of key stadia earmarked for Kenya’s matches.
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, said the government was impressed with the progress of the construction works currently underway at the 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium, as well as the rehabilitation works at Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, and Nyayo National Stadium.
To ensure full compliance with the CAF and FIFA laid-out standards during the stadium construction and rehabilitation, the CS said a delegation of CAF officials will be invited to Kenya next month to validate the works done.
The CS was speaking at Raila Odinga International Stadium on Tuesday after an extensive tour of the facility to check on the construction progress.
With Soipan Tuya, his counterpart in defence, at his side, Mvurya declared that 85 percent of the construction was finished.“We have decided to invite CAF in advance to review with us the progress and offer other suggestions they want while the contractor is still on the ground so that we incorporate those ideas into the construction works,” he said.
Mvurya expressed optimism that Kenya and the East African region under the Pamoja Countries would be able to host an event that is up to par with international standards. He stated that the government had invested heavily in establishing world-class sports infrastructure to ensure Kenya delivers a memorable tournament next year.
“We are impressed by the steady progress, with the project now at 85% completion. The contractor is working round the clock to finalise external works and the training facilities by the end of February, paving the way for subsequent auxiliary works to be undertaken seamlessly.
“We also reviewed the progress of seven other key projects, all at advanced stages of construction, that are critical to the successful delivery of AFCON 2027. A whole-of-government approach has been firmly invested to ensure comprehensive preparedness, even as we advance towards preparatory engagements with CAF in the near future.”
CS Soipan Tuya expressed elation with the progress of the works and gave assurance that Kenya would guard the 2027 AFCON hosting rights by guaranteeing that all sports facilities earmarked for this continental football tournament are delivered on time.
She termed the remarkable progress of the works as proof of the commitment to the whole-of-government approach in delivering legacy projects within the stipulated timeframes.
She also said that the process of formally adopting the name Raila Odinga International Stadium from Talanta Sports Complex is underway.
CS Mvurya was also accompanied by Principal Secretaries Elijah Mwangi (Sports), Patrick Mariru (Defence), SA Sports; Evans Achoki (Sports Kenya), DG Timothy Kilimo (Sports Kenya), Board Chairperson Mark Lomunokol and other senior government officials
