The government has highlighted the advanced technology being installed at the 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium, recently renamed Raila Odinga International Stadium, as a landmark investment in youth talent development and world-class sports infrastructure, placing Kenya among a select group of countries with elite stadium engineering found in only four venues worldwide.
In a statement, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said talent development, particularly among young people, is central to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and that modern sports facilities are a critical pillar in unlocking that potential.
“Talent development, particularly among the youth, is central to the realization of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” Omollo said. “To unlock this potential, the Government is deliberately investing in world-class sports infrastructure.”
Omollo said construction of the Talanta Stadium, now officially named Raila Odinga International Stadium in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is progressing steadily and remains on schedule. He noted that key external works have already been completed, including the installation of the stadium emblem, while interior canopy works are nearing completion.
“The playing surface is currently being precisely levelled to international standards,” he said, adding that the project is advancing in line with global requirements for elite football competitions.
At the heart of the stadium’s design is a highly sophisticated, fully computerised hydraulic tension cable roof-lifting system—an elite engineering feature currently found in only four stadiums worldwide. Omollo said the rare technology underscores the global stature of the project and reflects Kenya’s ambition to build facilities that meet the highest international benchmarks.
“A defining feature of the facility is its state-of-the-art, fully computerized hydraulic tension cable roof-lifting system, an elite engineering innovation found in only four other stadiums worldwide,” Omollo said.
Beyond the roof technology, the PS said the stadium will be equipped with modern facilities designed to support players, officials and broadcasters. These include seven contemporary changing rooms, VIP lounges, fully equipped media centres and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) booths integrated with goal-line technology.
Omollo said once completed, the Raila Odinga International Stadium will stand as a premier continental venue and play a central role in elevating Kenya’s profile in African football. “The stadium is set to host matches during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, positioning Kenya at the heart of elite African football,” he said.
He added that the facility will go beyond hosting matches by strengthening pathways for talent identification and development, offering young athletes exposure to top-level competition and professional infrastructure.
“This project is about more than bricks and steel,” Omollo said. “It is about giving our youth platforms to develop their talent, compete at the highest level and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic and social transformation.”
The government says the Raila Odinga International Stadium represents a long-term investment in sports, youth empowerment and Kenya’s standing on the global sporting stage.
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