AFCON: Kenya govt starts renovation work to improve Thika Stadium

The Kenyan government has given assurance that no displacement or disruptions of business activities will occur during the construction of the modern 10,000-seater stadium in Thika town, Kiambu County.

The CS for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya said the construction of the multi-million sporting facility will not adversely affect the businesses around the stadium.

Alongside Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, we officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the 10,000-seater Thika Stadium.

The Government has injected KSh 850 million into this project, which will be completed within 10 months. Beyond providing a modern sporting facility,… pic.twitter.com/isMX7j3kok

— H.E Salim_Mvurya, EGH. (@Waziri_Mvurya) February 16, 2026

The CS was speaking in Thika town during the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the construction of a modern Thika stadium as part of accelerating the growth of sports in the region.

Facility intended to be part of 2027 AFCON

He was accompanied by his Defense Counterpart Soipan Tuya, Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi and PS Defense Patrick Mariru.

Mvurya pointed out that construction of the stadium was a big boost for the county government in terms of establishment of strategic infrastructure that will boost business activities and uplift the profile of Thika as a sports town.

“I want to state that the businesses around the stadium and other livelihood activities will not be disrupted when this project starts,” he said.

The CS’s assurance calmed jitters and anxieties by a section of traders and local leaders who wanted to know the fate of traders adjacent to the stadium once the project commences.

Mvurya’s remarks were echoed by CS Defense Soipan Tuya who stated that the construction would not bring down other amenities in the stadium including a basketball court and a swimming pool. She noted that the project which was estimated to cost hundreds of millions of shillings would be a major boost to the growth of Thika as a town in the expansive Kiambu County.

Kiambu County currently has three stadium projects under implementation by the National Government, alongside three constituency sports academies aimed at strengthening grassroots talent development and creating structured pathways for our youth.

We were accompanied by Kiambu… pic.twitter.com/hdKzBokHmW

— H.E Salim_Mvurya, EGH. (@Waziri_Mvurya) February 16, 2026

“The amenities installed in the stadium to bolster sports will not be affected by the stadium construction,” she said.

Facility will feature an 8-lane modern running track

Thika Stadium is earmarked for major facelift with an enhanced sitting capacity of 10,000. This facility will also feature an 8-lane modern running track, a standard football pitch, changing rooms, a canopy and VVIP pavilion to host high-level guests and dignitaries.

Expected to take less than a year, this facility is also intended to be part of the stadiums in Kenya earmarked to be used as training facilities for AFCON next year.

The PS Sports Elijah Mwangi disclosed that Kiambu County was a major beneficiary of the ongoing government’s initiative to put up modern sports facility across Kenya. As a county, Kiambu is home to three major stadiums including Kirigiti, Karatu and Thika.

The County is also home to sports talent academies including Kimuchu, Kanjeru and a proposed one in Kikuyu.