President William Ruto has agreed to a public request to rename the newly built Talanta Stadium after opposition leader Raila Odinga. The announcement was made on Thursday during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium, where thousands of Kenyans had gathered for the national event.
The proposal was first raised by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who told the crowd that honouring Raila Odinga—one of Kenya’s most influential political figures—would be a historic gesture of unity. As he spoke, the crowd erupted in loud cheers, urging the President to support the idea.
President Ruto, responding to the excitement, said he was open to the renaming, noting that national infrastructure should reflect the contributions of leaders from across the political divide. His endorsement sparked even more celebrations in the stadium.
According to officials, the proposal will now move to the relevant government bodies for formal processing. If approved, Talanta Stadium—one of Kenya’s newest modern sports facilities—will officially become Raila Odinga International Stadium.
The moment was widely seen as a strong message of political reconciliation and national cohesion at a time when Kenyans continue to call for unity.
