Bien has urged the government to prioritise support for Kenyan athletes.
The singer challenges spending on the Sh45.8 billion project and calls for football allowances, a stronger league and better support for Kenyan athletes.
Musician Bien-Aimé Baraza has questioned the Talanta Stadium cost, urging the government to put struggling Kenyan athletes first. He argued that the Sh45.8 billion project reflected misplaced spending priorities in sport.
Speaking during an interview, Bien said he supported building the stadium but considered its price inflated. In his view, the government could have directed more money towards athletes and local competitions.
He also acknowledged that the facility would serve Kenyans beyond President William Ruto’s administration. However, he questioned whether those lasting benefits justified the construction bill.
Bien challenges Talanta Stadium cost and spending priorities
Bien called for the government to prioritise footballers’ allowances and strengthen the local football league. His objection, he explained, concerned the balance between infrastructure spending and support for the people playing sport.
To illustrate his concern, the singer cited Kenyan skater Kevin Kiarie’s struggle to secure support. Bien said Kiarie missed an international competition because he lacked adequate financial and institutional backing, despite consistently winning when competing.
He also questioned government expenditure on bringing international football clubs to Kenya, singling out Germany’s Bayern Munich. Bien argued that investment in homegrown sporting talent should come before such spending.
For the musician, these examples showed a disconnect between government spending choices and athletes’ needs. He maintained that wanting a new stadium should not mean overlooking footballers’ pay or the health of domestic competition.
Government attributes budget increase to taxes
Meanwhile, the stadium’s construction budget has drawn public scrutiny after reportedly rising from Sh35 billion to about Sh45.8 billion. The government has attributed the increase to taxes and other unavoidable costs incurred during implementation.
The 60,000-seat facility is under construction at Jamhuri Sports Complex in Nairobi. Its official name is Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium, and construction is progressing ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenya will co-host the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania. Beyond football, Bien acknowledged that Kenyans could use the venue for concerts and other public events.
Nevertheless, he maintained that its future usefulness did not settle his concern about the price. His appeal centred on giving athletes and local sport greater priority alongside major infrastructure projects.
