Sports Ministry to take over Raila Odinga Stadium

Mr Mvurya assured that the government is committed to ensuring the stadium meets both national and international standards.

“Madaraka Day will not be the end of our work here. Besides the national celebration, the sports facility will continue to be elevated to international standards,” the CS said.

Raila Odinga Stadium began hosting Football Kenya Federation Premier League matches in 2023, with Shabana Football Club using it as their temporary home ground, while Gusii Stadium in Kisii County underwent renovation.

At that time, the stadium had only one pavilion, accommodating up to 3,000 spectators. President William Ruto later directed the Sports Ministry to allocate funds for its renovation in December last year. The expansion began in January 2025.

The project is being implemented by Modern Precast Kenya Limited using precast concrete technology—an industrialised method involving off-site manufacturing of structural components such as walls, floors, and beams, which are then transported and assembled on-site.

This technique offers advantages such as faster construction timelines, better quality control, and reduced material waste.

Once complete, the stadium will be able to host at least 12,000 spectators.

An official from the company told Nation Sport that the project was completed in record time due to the use of modern technology, a ready workforce, and strong government backing.

“We have conducted other stadiums in Kwale, Kericho and Embu using the same technology. All of them have new features from what was there previously and we have not received any complaints so far,” the official said.

The company also utilises state-of-the-art machinery and qualified engineers. According to the official, the structure will be long-lasting and will require no maintenance. To maximize capacity, no seats will be installed on the terraces.

Additionally, the number of entrances has been increased from two to eight, including two VIP entries and six for the general public.

After inspecting the facility on Thursday, Mr Mvurya expressed satisfaction with the progress and confirmed that roofing for the pavilions would be completed before the end of the week.

He added that after the handover and the national celebration, the ministry plans to install a tartan track for athletics. The current track is made of tarmac.

“We will do other auxiliary facilities. We have asked our team to make an assessment of the facility including checking on the grass. If it is not up to the required standards, it will be replaced with Bermuda grass to ensure the field acquires the status we would wish to have,” Mr Mvurya said.

He emphasised that the upgrades will position Homa Bay to host international sporting events. Modern Precast Kenya Limited is currently awaiting further instructions from the ministry on whether it will undertake additional improvements, including the pitch and running track.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said her administration is collaborating with the national government to ensure timely completion of the project.

“We will ensure that everything that is required from the county government is put in place for the facility to host successful sporting events and the national celebration,” she said.

Meanwhile, the government is also preparing to begin construction of Migori Stadium.