Senate inspects Talanta Stadium, raises concerns over value for money

Led by Committee Chair Eddy Oketch, the lawmakers examined the level of work completed so far, the remaining timelines, and, crucially, whether Kenyans are getting value for money from this major infrastructure project.

Senator Oketch revealed that contractors on site—including teams from the military and the Ministry of Sports—had initially projected completion by May. However, a more realistic timeline now points to July.

He stressed that the committee’s primary focus goes beyond construction timelines.

“We are very keen on the value for money that this stadium may have delivered. We are also keen on ensuring that the procurement process was conducted in the right way,” Senator Oketch said.

He added that while the physical progress on the ground appears promising, the committee will continue to thoroughly examine procurement processes and financial expenditure.

“We have inspected the stadium, and we think it is fairly well done so far. However, we need to closely scrutinize the issues of procurement and value for money,” he stated.

The inspection followed an earlier scheduled meeting in which some senators expressed strong dissatisfaction over the absence of Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, accusing him of not taking the matter seriously. This led to the meeting being adjourned to a later date.

Talanta Stadium is one of the flagship venues for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania. Its timely completion to international standards will be crucial for Kenya to successfully stage the continental showpiece and leave a lasting sporting legacy.