The national government must proceed with construction work on a 10,000-seat stadium in Kilifi County after President William Ruto issued his immediate command, which established new infrastructure development rules that will impact Kenya’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations games in 2027.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya announced the project on 5 February 2026 through a Kilifi town rally where he stated that the President ordered the Ministry of Sports to handle complete project funding and execution.
The new decision establishes a different approach when compared to previous agreements, which designated Kilifi County Government as the main authority for building the facility through partnerships with national agencies.
The national government will finance all construction expenses, which total KSh 800 million, according to the new directive, and will manage all construction activities from starting work until finishing work, which includes building a standard soccer field and an athletics track and all necessary supporting facilities.
Mvurya explained that the initiative supports President Ruto’s goal to enhance sports facilities throughout the country while focusing on critical coastal regions, which will serve as Kenya’s preparation sites for the upcoming continental competition.
He mentioned that similar takeovers were already underway, which included the national government taking control of the Mombasa Stadium project, where construction will begin within weeks after they finish technical assessments.
The takeover operation receives analysis from sports analysts and political commentators who view it as an audacious and contentious action that occurs during current discussions about governmental funding needs and the implementation of development plans that counties manage.
Supporters believe the project will help produce important sports facilities faster while creating economic benefits for local communities through tourism and event hosting, but critics predict that the project will face delays and budget increases, which typically happen with national infrastructure projects.
The Kilifi stadium now serves as the main development project for Kenya’s sports infrastructure program, which aims to upgrade all athletic facilities across the country to comply with FIFA and continental standards before upcoming global sports events.
The national government needs to declare its complete involvement because this decision will determine how both county authorities and different government levels will work together and share their duties for the upcoming project.
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