Nairobi, Kenya | Sep 11, 2025 (The Arabian Wall Street) — Talanta Stadium Nairobi, one of Kenya’s flagship infrastructure projects, is nearing completion with construction expected to finish in 2026. Designed as a 60,000-seater football and rugby stadium, it is part of the venues earmarked to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), jointly organized by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The stadium, officially known as Talanta Sports Stadium or Talanta Sports City, is located at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road, approximately 10 kilometers west of Nairobi’s central business district. Positioned near Polo Grounds and the Jamhuri ASK Showground, it forms part of a wider development aimed at modernizing Nairobi’s sports infrastructure.
Key Facts About Talanta Stadium
- Construction Cost: KSh 44.7 billion
- Capacity: 60,000 seats
- Construction Period: 2024–2026
- Location: Jamhuri Grounds, Ngong Road, Nairobi
- Purpose: Hosting AFCON 2027 and domestic football and rugby events
Unlike traditional multi-sport facilities, Talanta Stadium will exclude an athletics track, focusing solely on football and rugby. However, adjacent athletics fields will be constructed to support training and related events.
Talanta Stadium Bond
The project’s financing model has attracted as much attention as the stadium itself. In July 2024, Linzi FinCo 003 Trust, a subsidiary of Liaison Group, issued a KSh 44.8 billion infrastructure-backed security on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
- Issuer: Linzi FinCo 003 (special purpose vehicle)
- Amount: KSh 44.8 billion
- Listing: NSE Restricted Fixed Income Market
- Tenor: 15 years, maturing in 2040
- Investor Incentives: Tax-exempt interest payments
- Repayment Source: Sports, Arts and Development Fund allocations from the Treasury
The bond was oversubscribed, with investors showing strong confidence in market-based financing for national infrastructure projects. However, critics have voiced concern about Kenya’s reliance on such structured debt to finance future developments.
Construction and Oversight
The China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), is executing the project, with engineering oversight provided by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Engineering Department. Construction officially commenced on March 1, 2024, under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement between the Government of Kenya and undisclosed partners.
The stadium will complement other Kenyan AFCON 2027 venues, including the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, alongside Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.
With CAF having confirmed the East Africa Pamoja bid in September 2023, Talanta Stadium now stands as a symbol of Kenya’s commitment to hosting the continent’s biggest football tournament while also modernizing its sports infrastructure through innovative financing.
