The national government has taken over the renovation of Mombasa Stadium, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has announced.
Mvurya said renovation works on the 15,000-seater facility will begin immediately after a comprehensive technical review is concluded.
He explained that the process will start once the project is formally handed over and its current fiscal status is established.
“Upon formal handover and receipt of the project’s current fiscal status, the technical team will conduct a detailed review of the remaining scope of works to guide completion in line with the government’s approved designs and standards,” said Mvurya.
The CS expressed confidence that the completion of the stadium will significantly boost sports tourism in the Coast region.
He noted that the facility will play a strategic role in positioning Mombasa as a low-altitude sports hub.
“As directed by H.E. President William Ruto, the FIFA-standard facility will serve as a strategic low-altitude sports hub, positioning Mombasa and the Coast region as a center for sports tourism while providing a world-class alternative venue for hosting major national and international competitions,” he said.
With the national government now in charge, attention shifts to the pace of construction as the state races to complete the facility ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum said the stadium is among the priority facilities identified under the presidential directive to accelerate sports development across the country.
“This stadium is at the heart of the presidential directive to develop and grow sports in the coastal region. The government is transforming sports through full commercialization, talent development, and anchoring sports as a key enabler in Kenya’s economic transformation,” he said.
Once completed, Mombasa Stadium will feature a presidential pavilion, a canopy, a standard football pitch, modern changing rooms, and advanced security systems, as well as upgraded lighting and sound systems.
Defense Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru confirmed that the project, which is being implemented by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), will be delivered within the set timelines and to the highest standards.
“This is a unique stadium with a unique design. We will build on it and deliver it within the timelines,” Mariru said.
The latest announcement has rekindled hopes of completing the stadium, whose construction has stalled multiple times over the years due to various challenges.
In 2013, the facility underwent a minor facelift costing approximately Sh230 million to enable it to host the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.
It was later closed in 2016 for further upgrades, but progress remained minimal, drawing criticism from sports stakeholders in the region.
In 2018, then Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho announced a Sh1.2 billion upgrade, with construction officially commencing a year later.
However, by 2021, works had stalled once again before being revived in 2023 ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya co-hosted with Uganda and Tanzania.
Mombasa Stadium was also considered as a potential venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but the proposal was later dropped in favor of constructing a new facility, the Talanta City Sports Stadium.
