Kenya is preparing a number of stadiums to be used for the CHAN 2024 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and it will be a costly affair for the country.
Kenya will spend nearly Ksh50 billion on the construction and renovation of match venues set to be used for the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenya is in a race against time to get Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums ready for CHAN 2024, after the tournament was postponed from February to August, while the country is constructing a new 60,000-seater football-only Talanta City Stadium for AFCON 2027.
According to Mozzart Sport, it will cost Kenya up to Ksh47 billion to have all these match venues ready as well as other grounds that will be used for training by participating teams.
Talanta Sports City stadium contractor has provided update on when the venue will be potentially ready for use.
The outlet reports that Sports Kenya has earmarked Ksh2.4 billion for the upgrade of Kasarani Stadium with Ksh1.2 billion set aside for Nyayo, both venues currently being prepared for the CHAN tournament.
Meanwhile, Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, whose construction has taken longer than expected, will cost Ksh2.2 billion while an additional Ksh1 billion will be used to improve training venues in Nairobi, being Kenya Police Sacco grounds, Kasarani Annex and Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Talanta Sports City Stadium will take the lion’s share of the budget with Ksh40 billion earmarked for the construction of the state-of-the-art facility, currently being done by China Road and Bridge Construction Company, with December 2025 projected as the completion date.
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The Kenyan government has been urged to take advantage of the CHAN postponement to fast-track renovation work at Kasarani and Nyayo.
Most of the refurbishment work will reportedly be funded from the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund, popularly known as Sports Fund, but the funding for the Talanta Sports City Stadium is still not known.
“The Ksh47 billion is just the initial cost but since then some other expenses have been added to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards and so Kenya may end up spending more than Ksh50 billion once all works are done,” a source told Mozzart Sport.
The development comes days after the Cabinet okayed a proposal to have the Sports Fund to be fully utilized by the Ministry of Sports.
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Kenya may fail to host the opening game of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) which will kick off on August 2.
