MURKOMEN: Nyayo and Kasarani set to reopen by year-end, Talanta Sports City on track for 2026

Sport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has assured the Kenyan sports fraternity that the iconic Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums will be ready for use before the end of the year. The two major facilities had been closed for renovations as part of Kenya's efforts to prepare for the 2027 African Cup of Nations, which the country aims to co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

The closure of these stadiums has significantly impacted Kenyan athletes, who have been forced to seek alternative training venues. This disruption has hampered their preparations for key international competitions, with the national football team, Harambee Stars, among those affected. The team has had to play its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier home matches on foreign soil due to the unavailability of these stadiums.

Murkomen, speaking at the Talanta Sports City project site at Jamhuri Sports Grounds, expressed confidence that the renovations would be completed on schedule. He assured that by the time athletes are gearing up for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13-21, both Nyayo and Kasarani will be in excellent condition.

"We are working hard to have Kasarani and Nyayo ready before the end of the year and in much better condition than before. We are aware of the athletics calendar for next year, and our athletes will not struggle to find suitable training grounds," said Murkomen.

Murkomen was at the site with Defence CS Soipan Tuya to inspect the progress of the Talanta Sports City project, a new stadium also aimed at hosting the 2027 African Cup of Nations. The project, which is being managed by the Ministry of Defence, is on track for completion by the end of 2025. He had earlier in the day inspected ongoing refurbishment works at Nyayo and Kasarani.

Ongoing construction at the Talanta Sports City (C) Michael Kirwa

"This is a project that the government of Kenya is undertaking, and there is still a lot of work to do. However, we remain on course to complete it within the stipulated deadline," said Murkomen, while also acknowledging the contributions of his predecessor, Ababu Namwamba, who initiated the project.

Defence CS Soipan Tuya and Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen lead other officials on an inspection tour at the Talanta Sports City (C) Michael Kirwa

Murkomen also addressed the issue of inadequate facilities for other sports, such as basketball, swimming, and volleyball. He urged sports federations to partner with international schools and colleges with decent facilities, while the government works on filling the existing gaps. He lamented that some federations operate like "briefcase organizations," lacking seriousness in their operations, and vowed to streamline these for the benefit of Kenyan sports.

Additionally, Murkomen addressed concerns about stalled stadium projects across the country. He assured the public that his Ministry is committed to ensuring that all stadiums meet certified standards. "We will soon gazette the standards required for constructing stadiums. Once these projects are completed, we will provide sufficient training facilities and ensure that our teams are funded adequately to compete at the highest level," he concluded.

In a separate event, Murkomen flagged off the Kenyan Under-20 athletes on August 23, who are set to compete in the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, from August 27-31. The team of 22 athletes will represent Kenya in six categories: 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 3000m steeplechase, and 10,000m walk.

CS Kipchumba Murkomen flags off the athletes (C) Ahmed Shaft

This event marked Murkomen’s first official assignment as the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Sports. He emphasized the importance of unity and teamwork among the athletes, urging them to represent Kenya with pride and confidence.

"When you leave your country, you become ambassadors of our great nation. Compete with confidence, knowing that you carry the hopes of the entire country," Murkomen told the athletes. He also announced cash rewards for medal winners, with Sh500,000 for gold, Sh300,000 for silver, and Sh150,000 for bronze. He added that he and his friends would each contribute an additional Sh100,000 for medalists.

Looking to the future, Murkomen outlined plans to establish more sports academies across Kenya to nurture young talent. He mentioned that the Ministry of Sports would collaborate with the Ministry of Education to formalize support for schools that are excelling in sports. This partnership aims to provide full scholarships to talented athletes, ensuring they can focus on their training without worrying about school fees.

"We will work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that schools give full scholarships to athletes so that they don’t have to worry about school fees. This is something I will be discussing with CS Migos as we formalize our engagement between sports and education," Murkomen said.