Bien says Raila Odinga International Stadium reflects misplaced priorities in Kenya’s sports sector

Musician Bien has questioned the spending priorities behind the construction of Talanta Stadium, saying the issue is not the facility itself but the amount of money used to build it while sports talent remains neglected.

Bien argued that the stadium could have been built without attracting criticism if the money spent on the project had been used differently. He said the concerns raised by Kenyans are about the cost and how public funds are being allocated in the sports sector.

“The problem is not the asset itself. The problem is the inflated price at which it was made. Like that money could have been used differently,” Bien said during an interview with Oga Obinna on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The musician explained that people are not necessarily against the construction of a stadium but are questioning the decision to spend heavily on a major project while athletes continue to need support.

He said the issue reflects a disconnect between the government’s spending decisions and the needs of people involved in sports. Bien also questioned the focus on building a major facility at a time when the Sports Ministry is not taking care of established sports personalities.

Bien said the public criticism surrounding Talanta Stadium should be understood as a concern about misplaced priorities rather than opposition to sports infrastructure.

“And I feel like people are not really hating a stadium being built. People are hating the…building this monumental thing ukumbukwe nayo. While the sports ministry isn’t taking care of the sports elite. So it is a misplaced priority thing,” he said.

His remarks placed the debate on how money allocated to sports could be used to support athletes and other people who have built their careers in the sector.

Bien further questioned how public funds continue to be spent on major projects and events while the needs of sports personalities remain a concern. He cited the spending involved in bringing Bayern to Kenya as another example of what he sees as a disconnect in the country’s priorities.

“So how do we keep misappropriating our funds and spending billions bringing Bayern here? I feel like there is a disconnect,” Bien said.

The musician maintained that the issue is not about rejecting the construction of Talanta Stadium but questioning whether the money used and other spending decisions reflect the needs of Kenya’s sports sector.

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