Kenya has intensified its reconstruction of the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, with the iconic Nairobi venue undergoing another major overhaul as the country races to meet Confederation of African Football standards ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The latest works include installation of a new hybrid Bermuda-grass pitch, an advanced drainage system, improved floodlighting, upgraded VIP and VVIP areas, modern media facilities and new technology designed to bring the stadium up to international standards.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the latest phase is intended to transform Kasarani into a 60,000-seater facility capable of staging major international matches.
“The current works, under the strict oversight of the Ministry of Defence and Sports Kenya, are being executed comprehensively to deliver a 60,000-seater facility that meets FIFA and CAF standards ahead of major international assignments, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” Omollo said.
The stadium was extensively refurbished ahead of the 2025 African Nations Championship, which Kenya co-hosted with Uganda and Tanzania, but CAF requirements for AFCON are significantly higher.
The current reconstruction goes deeper than cosmetic work. Contractors have removed the previous playing surface and undertaken major ground engineering, including the installation of drainage pipes, filtration layers and a new soil profile before the hybrid turf is established.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi had earlier said the works were aimed at ensuring the pitch performs reliably regardless of weather conditions.
“The upgrading of the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Center (MISC) Kasarani are on as Kenya’s relentless push in readiness for AFCON 2027 gathers pace,” Mwangi said in June.
“We are firmly on course to deliver a facility that meets international sporting standards.”
Omollo said the wider renovation now includes a spectator canopy that is 99 per cent complete, fully replaced seating, 2,000-lux floodlighting, VAR facilities, animation screens, upgraded changing rooms and automated ticketing.
“The transformation includes a new hybrid Bermuda-grass pitch and advanced drainage system, a 99%-complete spectator canopy, fully replaced seating, upgraded VIP and VVIP lounges, 2,000-lux floodlighting, animation screens and VAR facilities,” he said.
Two training grounds at the complex have also been rehabilitated. The Kasarani works provide an important counterpoint to the progress being reported at Kenya’s new Raila Odinga International Stadium, which is now the centrepiece of Nairobi’s AFCON preparations.
Kenya’s Local Organising Committee told Parliament on August 23 that the Raila Odinga facility had reached 95 per cent completion and that overall national preparations stood at about 80 per cent.
LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye believes the new stadium could strengthen Kenya’s case to host both the opening and final of AFCON 2027.
“We stand a good chance to host both the opening and closing ceremonies; this is because of the new facility the Talanta, Raila Odinga Stadium — that is at 95% completion,” Musonye told MPs.
He added: “We are confident that the Confederation of African Football will give us a good ranking as they come for audit; we are at 80% in terms of preparations, which is the benchmark.”
That confidence, however, also underlines why Kasarani matters. Kenya cannot measure its AFCON readiness solely by the progress of its new flagship stadium.
CAF requires an entire network of competition venues, training grounds, transport systems, hotels, security arrangements and broadcast facilities to function to tournament standards.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya told the Kenyan Senate in March that Kasarani and Raila Odinga International Stadium would be central to the country’s hosting plan, with Nyayo, Ulinzi and Police SACCO facilities earmarked as training grounds.
“As a Ministry, we are working very closely to ensure that we meet our financial and infrastructural compliance obligations,” Mvurya said.
The Kasarani reconstruction fits into a much bigger August test for the three PAMOJA hosts.
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania agreed with CAF earlier this year that August 2026 would be an important checkpoint for infrastructure and operational preparations.
With less than 10 months before the tournament kicks off on June 19, 2027, projects can no longer be judged simply by the percentage of concrete already poured.
They must be completed early enough to allow CAF inspection, remedial work and full operational testing.
For Kenya, the rapid progress at the Raila Odinga Stadium may attract the headlines, but the depth of work still being undertaken at Kasarani shows just how demanding the final stretch of AFCON preparation will be.
If Kenya wants both the opening match and final, it will have to convince CAF not only that its newest stadium is ready, but that the rest of its tournament infrastructure can match that ambition.
