Kenya has finally paid its $30 million (about Shs112 billion) hosting fee to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), cementing its place as a co-host for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a statement on Tuesday, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the government has also restructured the local organizing committee to ensure smooth preparations for the tournament.
“We have fully met our financial and institutional obligations to CAF as we steadily advance towards co-hosting the 2027 AFCON tournament,” Mvurya said.
Kenya had been under pressure to meet the payment, lagging behind fellow co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania, who had already completed their $30 million commitments.
“This milestone reflects the firm commitment of President William Ruto to position Kenya as a premier destination for global sporting events and leverage sports as a catalyst for economic growth, youth empowerment, job creation, and international prestige,” Mvurya added.
He said preparations are being fast-tracked, including upgrades to stadiums, training grounds, transport, and logistics, along with improvements in safety, security, and broadcast standards.
“Following the CAF inspection report, we are implementing all infrastructure and operational compliance requirements with precision, urgency, and accountability,” Mvurya said.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted the multi-sectoral nature of the organizing committee, which brings together both public and private sector actors.
“This approach ensures our institutional capacity is fully aligned with the scale, complexity, and urgency of preparations required to host a tournament of AFCON’s magnitude,” he emphasized.
Looking ahead, Kenya and its co-hosts will meet next month to coordinate visa facilitation, customs clearance, and other measures to ease movement for teams, officials, and fans.
Mvurya reiterated Kenya’s commitment to delivering a world-class AFCON 2027 that will exceed expectations both on the continent and globally.
