NAIROBI, Kenya — A Chinese national has been found dead at Talanta Sports City Stadium construction site in Nairobi, prompting a fresh police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The worker was discovered unresponsive inside a toilet block at the Talanta Sports City Stadium construction site in Jamhuri, according to police.
Security personnel stationed at the site raised the alarm after the body was found on Tuesday morning. Preliminary reports indicate that a chef working with the Chinese management team was the first to discover the man before alerting other workers and security officers.
He was rushed to a nearby medical facility but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police have since launched investigations, with detectives examining the scene to determine the cause of death.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said authorities are pursuing two main lines of inquiry.
Investigators are considering whether the death resulted from natural causes or if foul play may have been involved.
Officers who examined the body noted a minor injury on the right side of the head, although it remains unclear whether it is linked to the death.
The body has been moved to Lee Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination is expected to provide further clarity.
The incident comes months after another death was reported at the same construction site, raising renewed concerns over safety and accountability.
In late 2025, the body of 35-year-old worker Sammy Kyengo was discovered within the stadium grounds after he had been reported missing.
His body was found submerged in a concealed water sump beneath the terraces, in an area investigators said appeared to have been deliberately covered.
Police reported that Kyengo had visible injuries to the head and neck, with blood observed from his nose and mouth.
A post-mortem later confirmed he had sustained serious trauma before his death.
Speaking at the time, his wife linked his distress to delayed wages.
“He told me that the company had refused to pay them since July. He wanted to claim his money and leave the job,” she said.
The discovery prompted authorities to temporarily suspend construction work and seal off sections of the site to allow forensic investigations.
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The Talanta Sports City Stadium is a flagship infrastructure project expected to host matches during the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
The 60,000-seat facility is also being considered for key tournament events, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
The latest death is likely to intensify scrutiny of working conditions at the site, particularly as Kenya races to meet construction deadlines ahead of the continental tournament.
Authorities say further details will depend on the outcome of the post-mortem examination and ongoing investigations.
For now, police have not ruled out any possibility, as questions continue to mount over safety standards and oversight at one of the country’s most high-profile infrastructure projects.
