NAIROBI, Kenya — Football fans travelling to Talanta Sports City for the January 5, 2027, friendly between Bayern Munich and Ajax could have a new transport option, with the government targeting December 15 to complete a 13.3-kilometre railway connection to the stadium.
The railway line, which will link Nairobi Central Station to Talanta Sports City, is expected to reduce travel time from the Central Business District to the stadium to approximately 15 minutes.
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar announced the completion deadline during an inspection tour of the ongoing construction works, saying the government intends to have the line operational ahead of the high-profile match.
“By December 15, we will have this line ready,” Daghar said.
The government plans to use the railway to transport large numbers of spectators to and from the stadium, easing pressure on roads during the January 5 fixture.
Daghar said the service would have the capacity to move up to 1,500 passengers every 10 minutes, with trains operating in both directions at the same interval.
“We anticipate using this line to come and watch the game on January 5. We are going to be evacuating 1500 passengers every 10 minutes to come and watch the game. Every 10 minutes there are going to be a train, whether bringing you in or out,” he said.
Trains are expected to operate at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour, providing an alternative to road transport for supporters attending matches and other events at the facility.
Four stations planned along Nairobi-Talanta railway route
The railway connection will have four stations along its route, serving areas near Nyayo Stadium, Mbagathi, Kibera and Talanta Sports City.
Daghar identified Kibera as the main station along the connection, with the other stops positioned to improve access for residents and stadium visitors.
“Kibera is our major station. Other stations will be near Nyayo Stadium, Mbagathi, and Talanta Sports City,” he said.
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The project includes extensive rehabilitation of existing railway infrastructure, which Daghar described as an overhaul of a line that had been in place for more than a century.
The works involve replacing steel sleepers with concrete ones and upgrading the drainage system to improve the railway’s condition and operational reliability.
A spur line is also being constructed from Kibera Station to provide a direct connection to Talanta Sports City.
Railway upgrades ahead of AFCON 2027
Kenya Railways is also installing pedestrian overpasses and underpasses at Kibera, Laini Saba, Gatwekera and Kambi Muru to improve access and safety for people crossing the railway corridor.
A perimeter wall will also be erected along the line to protect the railway infrastructure.
The government is seeking to complete the connection ahead of the January friendly and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for July.
If delivered on schedule, the railway could provide an important transport link for supporters attending matches at Talanta Sports City, while offering a longer-term public transport option for major events at the facility.
However, the December 15 deadline leaves a relatively short period for testing and operational preparations before the January 5 match.
