NAIROBI, Kenya, April 12 – As the Ministry of Defence, through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), moves into the final 12% of internal and external works at Talanta Sports City, the project is entering a decisive phase, one where jobs are becoming more specialised even as its wider economic impact becomes more visible.
The ministry manages the project among other sports facilities across the country inline with a presidential deiresctive to ensure delivery of years of unmet promises to jump start an ailing sports economy. With the stadium nearing completion at 88% progress, its economic ripple effect is already being felt, from direct employment in the final construction stages to a growing network of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) supporting the surge in activity around the site.
According to Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, the project maintains a massive daily workforce “ On a normal day we have between 700 up to 2,000 young people working in this construction site,” she said, adding that “ This is a typical demonstration of the bottom-up economic transformation, job creation and all the industries, the support system for the stadia. The ripple effect of the sports economy.”
The steady influx of workers has stimulated demand for a range of services, benefiting businesses and communities living around the emerging sports complex. The business community remains upbeat, commending the KDF for delivering a landmark project that is not only positioning Kenya’s sports economy for growth but also driving tourism and expanding employment opportunities across the sectors.
“The physical structure, the facade is fully completed, the roof is complete, sound system, flood lights and what we are left with is the finishing touches and the various services that will serve the stadium” Tuya said “Therefore, it is really a happy moment and it has been a collaborative effort with the Kenya Defence Forces, the Ministry of Defence, spearheading the construction works but with the support from the Ministry of Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Roads, Ministry of Water, Ministry of ICT and the Ministry of Energy,being critical sectors” explaining that the concerns raised in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspection report are part of the works being done in the final phase.
The Cabinet Secretary also underscored the stadium’s broader appeal as a lifestyle and sports fans destination.
“This is one of the priority projects that will position Kenya as a sporting hub and with a state of the art stadium, the training pitches, the beautiful landscaping that has been done here, there is a fan corner up there with a big large screen for Kenyans to enjoy the sporting. It is a moment of pride. The pitch is already formed and ready for planting of the grass which according to the CAF standards we have to actually do seeding from scratch, ” she noted.
For local entrepreneur Jemima Nyambura, the impact is already tangible. A resident of the Kibo area for eight years, she has witnessed firsthand how the project has reshaped her food business.
“The Talanta project has been done very fast, from the day the president launched it has been rising up.When this sports complex started, I was already here selling food. Now I have more customers, and I am happy,” she said, noting that construction workers, security personnel, and drivers form the bulk of her clientele. “They come to eat, and they enjoy my food. Some even say they wish that they could stay longer because of it.”
Nyambura also noted improved security in the area and commended the KDF for going over and above overseeing the project, boosting the micro and the Nairobi city economy.
“We are very grateful for Talanta Stadium, it has transformed this area. President Ruto has shown that politics and development can go hand in hand. There can be politics, but development must continue without being stalled. We should not allow development to stop because of politics. That is how we will achieve real change” she said.
