News of the success of the Pamoja AFCON Bid, the Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations was largely received in Kenya with skepticism and downright cynicism.
At the time, Kenyans were struggling with a cost-of-living crisis spiraling out of control with the government looking unable to manage. There wasn’t much hope going around. It looked impossible Kenya could do anything that requires a high-capacity investment and coordination.
Our history of failure at hosting big tournaments, inadequate infrastructure, and a weak football federation fueled this skepticism.
Five months later with a stellar AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast in between, signs of hope that Kenya might actually do it are emerging. Renovation at Kasarani stadium has started with an estimated completion date of December 2024.
A roof over Kasarani and other major improvements around it will be a clear sign of intent from government, emboldening the public in the emerging hope that we might actually do it.
The biggest measure of our preparedness however lies in the newly commissioned Talanta City Stadium. An ambitious and stunning project, breaking ground and consequent activity around the build site gives hope.
Kenya has not done a major sports investment project since Kasarani in 1986 and the All-Africa Games of 1987. Anybody 45 and younger has hardly seen any major sports investment or activity in Kenya. Governments have often talked about it but little has ever been done.
This is why Talanta Stadium is a big deal. The 60,000-seater all football stadium is a bold attempt by government to inject investment into sports in one go than has been collectively done since 1987.
At an estimated cost of over Kshs 30 billion, this will be one of this government’s major investments and a clear flagship project. In many ways, the government has set itself up for a project that CANNOT FAIL. Failure to complete Talanta Stadium is an own goal the current government cannot arise from.
This is why Talanta Stadium becomes a measure of Kenya’s preparedness for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. We will use it as a ruler of how far we are and how far we have to go.
Since Talanta stadium has just broken ground and there is some activity, we can say we are 2% prepared for 2027. We have 98% to go with three years in hand. Let’s go!
