Nairobi: $294 million for a 10,000-seat arena

A private project worth $294.49 million, approximately 38 billion Kenyan shillings, plans to establish a 10,000-seat indoor arena along with a hotel, commercial, and event complex in Nairobi. Led by Zaria Group in partnership with Helios Sports & Entertainment Group, the development will be located in Nairobi Railway City on land owned by Kenya Railways.

Project documents released in September estimate that around 3,500 direct jobs will be created during construction, with 1,500 permanent positions once the site becomes operational. The developers also anticipate that events held at the complex could generate up to 25,000 temporary jobs annually in hospitality, retail, and entertainment production.

The first phase will focus on the multifunctional arena, designed to host basketball games, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and other cultural events. The plan also includes a 140-room hotel, a 70-unit serviced apartment tower, office spaces, retail shops, restaurants, a public square, an amphitheater, and parking facilities.

The project is based on a long-term lease signed on April 10 between Zaria Group and Kenya Railways Corporation, in the presence of President William Ruto. The Kenyan presidency had previously presented the arena and its entertainment district as the flagship project of the Nairobi Railway City urban renewal program.

The development will be managed locally by Metroarena Development Company, a subsidiary of Zaria Group. After construction, the arena will be operated by QA Venue Solutions, which already manages the BK Arena and Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.