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Ruto: 22 modern stadiums that the State is building will uplift youth
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (left), KQ hostess Evalyn Gacamiu, President William Ruto, Nation Media Group Managing Director and Group CEO Geoffrey Odundo and KBL Managing Director Andrew Kilonzo during the prize-giving ceremony of the 2026 Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Karen Country Club with on February 22, 2026.
What you need to know:
- President Ruto said other than the Talanta Stadium, the government is constructing 21 other modern sports facilities elsewhere in the country.
- The Head of State rewarded 22-year-old Njoroge Kibugu, who was the only Kenyan to have made the cut in the tournament, with Sh5 million.
President William Ruto has emphasised that provision of modern sporting facilities and training venues to Kenya’s young population will build their sporting careers, thereby keeping them away from social vices like drug abuse and alcoholism.
President Ruto noted that the government has deliberately invested heavily in giving the country the best sporting infrastructure, beginning with the delivery of the ultra-modern Talanta Sports City Stadium to tap sporting talent among youth.
An aerial view of the under-construction 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium in Nairobi on January 23, 2026.
Speaking during the awards ceremony of the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship at Karen Country Club in Nairobi on Sunday, President Ruto noted that other than the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City Stadium that will be renamed Raila Amollo Odinga International Stadium, the government was constructing 21 other modern sports facilities elsewhere in the country.
“Many people are questioning why I am spending so much on sports. We are not just doing it because Kenya is a sporting nation but we also have a young population,” Ruto said on Sunday.
“If we do not develop sports infrastructure, we will not be giving an opportunity to the young people in Kenya to explore and develop their talent,” he added.
President William Ruto presents the Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament trophy to the winner Jarvis Casey of South Africa at Karen Country Club with on February 22, 2026.
Casey Jarvis became the eighth South African to win the Kenya Open title after returning 25-under par 255 at the par-70 course, the best ever score to be registered in the history of the DP World Tour event. He won Sh60 million top prize.
Njoroge Kibugu was the best Kenyan finisher. He was joint 61st on a score of six-under par 274, and took home a cash reward of Sh922,350.
President Ruto rewarded the 22-year-old Kibugu, who was the only Kenyan to have made the cut in the tournament, with Sh5 million in addition to cash reward of Sh2 million from Absa Bank Kenya.
President William Ruto congratulates Kenyan golfer Njoroge Kibugu during the prize-giving ceremony of the 2026 Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Karen Country Club with on February 22, 2026.
“Seventy percent of our population are young people, who are aged 35 years and below. We have a big challenge as a nation of drug abuse and alcohol. I believe developing sports infrastructure will give young people an opportunity to use their time in sports,” Ruto said.
The President noted that most local sportsmen and women, including the 22-year-old Jarvis, were below the age of 25 which justified Kenya’s investment in sports.
“This means golf is a sport for young people and not as early perceived. We have approved a curriculum for golf to be part of the games that are taught in school,” Ruto said. He paid tribute to Kibugu as an inspiration to the young generation to take up sports.
Golf fans follows the progress of Kenyan golfer Njoroge Kibugu during the Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament at Karen Golf and Country Club on February 22, 2026
Speaking during the same function, Nation Media Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Office Geoffrey Odundo said the company will continue being part and parcel of the Kenya Open Golf Championship in its deliberate mission to develop the game in the country. Odundo said NMG will grow its annual tournament, the Nation Golf Classic, to include more events next year after staging two events this year.
Kenya Tourism Board CEO June Chepkemei said that more than 544 million households across the world watched this year’s tournament, adding that more quality players came for the event that fell a week after Qatar Masters, another DP World event.
“We received much attention since the focus turned from Qatar Masters to Nairobi,” she observed . The government is the main sponsor of the Kenya Open Golf Championship under the Magical Kenya brand.
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