President William Ruto has announced plans to construct a modern stadium at Jacaranda Grounds in Soweto, Embakasi East, Nairobi.
The Head of State made the announcement on Thursday during an inspection tour of the ongoing rehabilitation works at the Savannah–Stage 17 Bridge Road in Soweto. He revealed that the stadium's construction will officially begin in September 2025.
“As from September this year, I will be coming back here to officially launch the stadium’s construction,” Ruto stated, adding that the government would also invest in other social amenities, including schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure in the area.
This comes after the Ministry of Defence officially handed over the newly renovated Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums, which were refurbished by the government in preparation for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) games set to begin in August.
On Wednesday, President William Ruto inspected the near-complete Kasarani Stadium, where he also met and interacted with the national team players.
The Kasarani stadium has undergone major upgrades to ensure full compliance with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) standards ahead of the CHAN 2024 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
During the inspection, Ruto affirmed that Kenya is fully prepared to host the upcoming CHAN games, scheduled to kick off on August 3. “Today, we can proudly say that we are going to host CHAN on August 3,” he declared.
Addressing Harambee Stars players, who are currently training for the tournament at the stadium, the President assured them of the government's full backing. He emphasised that national support would be unwavering as the team prepares to compete on home soil.
He further encouraged the players to give their best and make the nation proud. “We believe in you. We trust you. We believe in your capacity and potential and we will proudly cheer you to victory,” he said.
Other stadiums in Nairobi include Ulinzi, Talanta—which is currently under construction—Dandora, and City Stadium, which has remained neglected for many years. These add to at least six modern stadiums now available in the capital.
Meanwhile, the President further disclosed that youth recently recruited into the government’s Climate WorkX programme will begin work on Monday, following the conclusion of the shortlisting exercise.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also announced that all youth currently serving under the Green Army initiative will be formally transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms.
Sakaja noted that the move is part of efforts to boost job security and provide long-term opportunities for youth involved in environmental conservation projects across the city.
