Kenya's dream of becoming a top destination for international sports, culture and big conferences is slowly but surely becoming a reality. The government is pushing hard to complete several landmark projects that will not only put the country on the global map but also create jobs and open up new opportunities in tourism and entertainment.
To check on the progress of these major works, the Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics, Major General Peter Limo, recently carried out an inspection of the ongoing construction at the Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium, which was formerly known as Talanta Stadium. He also visited the Bomas of Kenya to see how the modernization works are coming along.
The Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium, located at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road, is a massive 60,000-seater facility that will be Kenya's biggest stadium once completed. The Sh49 billion project has already surpassed 91 per cent completion and is expected to be fully ready by the end of July 2026.
This stadium is among the key venues that will host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, saying the main focus now is on mechanical and electrical installations.
The pitch has already been laid and the grass is coming out well, with teams monitoring it closely to ensure it meets the standards set by the Confederation of African Football.
A one-million-litre water tank has also been installed, and work on roads, drainage and the perimeter wall is ongoing.
Beyond the main stadium, three training grounds are also being developed for teams that will be using the facility during AFCON 2027. Two of these training grounds have already been handed over to contractors and are expected to be completed within two months. The third one is already progressing well, with grass planted and tartan tracks planned for athletics events.
At the Bomas of Kenya, the story is equally impressive. The facility is being transformed into the Bomas International Convention Complex, a world-class conferencing and tourism hub.
President William Ruto recently toured the site and announced plans to construct a shopping mall, hotels and a modern arena as part of the expansion.
The President said the days when major facilities were concentrated only in Nairobi were coming to an end, and that development must reach every corner of the country.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has told Parliament that the project has seen completion of key design phases and notable progress in core structural works.
The new convention centre will feature a 5,000-seat main hall capable of hosting continental summits, a 3,500-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-seat banquet ballroom for high-level state dinners.
A dedicated presidential pavilion will accommodate up to 32 heads of state at once. Altogether, the centre will host up to 11,000 delegates across 54 meeting rooms, making it one of the largest conferencing complexes in Africa.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the Bomas project is how it blends modern conferencing facilities with Kenyan culture. The new development will include a Digital, Cultural and Heritage Centre featuring immersive screens showcasing traditional performances, digitised archives of oral histories and virtual storytelling spaces where visitors can "walk through" Kenya's diverse communities.
These projects are not just about buildings. They are about creating jobs for hundreds of workers and boosting Kenya's economy through sports tourism and international conferences.
With AFCON 2027 on the horizon and the Bomas complex set to position Nairobi as a leading conferencing destination in East and Central Africa, Kenya is clearly making moves to step onto the global stage.
Major General Limo's inspection is part of the government's broader commitment to ensuring these transformative facilities are delivered on time and to world-class standards.
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