NAIROBI, Kenya – Workers at the Talanta Sports City construction site in Nairobi have gone on strike, citing non-payment for their services.
In a video circulating online, the workers are heard demanding their owed salaries from their employers, declaring that they will not return to work until they are paid.
The exact duration of the payment delay remains unclear.
Workers at Talanta Sports City have downed tools over payment issues. “No money, no work”.#FootballKE
The Talanta Sports City project, which includes the construction of a 60,000-seat stadium, is a key infrastructure initiative for Kenya ahead of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
The $344.5 million (Sh44.7 billion) project began in March 2024 and is expected to be completed by February 2026.
The Talanta Sports City, located at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi, is being constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
The stadium is designed to meet FIFA standards and will serve as a centerpiece for the country’s growing sports infrastructure.
In addition to the stadium, several other key facilities across Kenya are being refurbished to meet international standards, including Nyayo National Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani, and the Kenya Academy of Sports.
The ongoing strike has put President William Ruto’s major sports infrastructural development projects in the spotlight, as the Ministry of Defence, tasked with overseeing the work, now faces additional pressure to resolve the payment issue and avoid further disruptions.
