Nairobi — October 2025
As Kenya wrapped up its national mourning for the late Raila Odinga, one of the country’s most outspoken lawmakers made a striking proposal — to rename the new Talanta Stadium in Nairobi after the former Prime Minister.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said the move would be a fitting tribute to Odinga’s lifelong service to democracy, human rights, and devolution, as well as his passion for sports.
“Even as the national mourning period of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga comes to an end, we should name Talanta Stadium as Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium in honour of his celebrated legacy of democracy, rule of law, human rights, devolution and his love for sports,” Cherargei wrote in an X post on 24 October.
The senator, a vocal ally of President William Ruto, praised the administration’s ongoing modernisation of sports facilities ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. “The future of sports, especially for our youth, looks secure under President Ruto’s administration,” he added.
Cherargei’s call comes days after Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga made a similar appeal during Odinga’s burial at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology. She urged President Ruto to name the 60,000-seater stadium after Odinga, describing the project as “magnificent” and symbolic of his lifelong commitment to national unity and youth empowerment.
“It would be a lasting way to honour a man who gave his all for Kenya,” Wanga said, also proposing an annual memorial sports event in Odinga’s name.
The proposal has sparked a broader conversation on how Kenya honours its national icons. For decades, Odinga was at the centre of the country’s political evolution — a man who inspired devotion and debate in equal measure. Naming a landmark sports facility after him, some argue, would be a gesture that transcends politics, uniting the nation around his legacy of resilience and reform.
Talanta Stadium, one of several new facilities under construction in preparation for AFCON 2027, represents a major government push to improve sports infrastructure. Officials hope it will become a hub for young talent and international competitions.
Whether the stadium ultimately bears Odinga’s name remains to be seen. But for many Kenyans, the conversation underscores a deeper question — how the nation chooses to remember those who shaped its destiny.
