Parliament Questions Kenya's AFCON 2027 Readiness After Stadium Inspection

The National Assembly Sports and Culture Committee inspected Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium on Thursday, October 1. Chaired by Webuye West MP Daniel Wanyama, the committee assessed construction progress and AFCON preparedness ahead of the 2027 tournament.

Members learned that overall construction had reached 94 percent completion on the facility. The main stadium works stood at 95%, outdoor training facilities at 92%, and external works at 93% completion.

Construction Remains on Schedule for CAF Deadline
The Ministry of Defence, implementing the project, confirmed construction remained on schedule for the December 31 deadline. The Confederation of African Football set this date as the final completion requirement for all facilities.

However, the stadium will require approximately three months of testing and commissioning after construction. Systems and facilities must be fully operational before the tournament commences in 2027.

MPs Raise Critical Infrastructure and Service Concerns
Parliament members questioned officials on roads, transport, security, healthcare, water supply and hospitality readiness. CAF standards compliance and training venue availability were also examined during the inspection session.

Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna sought details on road accessibility serving the stadium facility. He questioned authorities' plans for managing large fan movements entering and leaving during matches.

Medical Services and Environmental Protection Questioned
Nguna raised concerns about protecting the playing surface from weeds and environmental damage. He sought information on hospital availability and proximity for medical services to players and spectators.

Turbo MP Janet Sitienei asked whether facilities met CAF requirements for international standards. She requested updates on readiness of designated training venues across the region.

Water Supply and Sports Tourism Capacity Examined
Sitienei questioned whether available water supply would meet large crowd demands during tournament. She called for measures promoting sports tourism before, during and after AFCON 2027.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi raised concerns about Football Kenya Federation leadership disputes. He asked how the Local Organising Committee would address potential governance issues affecting preparations.