REVEALED: Kenya to $30 million to co-host 2027 AFCON with Uganda and Tanzania

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is awaiting a $30 million payment from Kenya as part of the financial commitments tied to the country’s role in co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The fee forms part of the joint agreement under the East Africa Pamoja bid, which secured the right to stage the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania. While both neighbouring countries have already settled their respective $30 million contributions, Kenya is still working through the final steps required to meet the same obligation.

Under the hosting contract, each nation must remit its share before April 2026.

Kenya’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) has described the payment as critical to safeguarding the country’s hosting status and avoiding potential concerns from CAF. The funds underpin major tournament preparations, including stadium construction and refurbishment, training facilities, security coordination and transport upgrades across designated host cities.

The 24-team continental showpiece carries significant operational and infrastructure demands, with CAF closely tracking the readiness of all three co-hosts.

Inspection teams from the continental body have been touring venues across the region to assess stadium standards, training grounds, safety protocols and supporting infrastructure. In Kenya, venues inspected include Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, Talanta Sports Stadium and the Ulinzi Sports Complex — key facilities earmarked for tournament activities.

The financial requirement, however, arrives at a challenging moment for Kenya’s sports sector.

Parliament’s 2025/2026 budget estimates indicate that the State Department for Sports saw its allocation reduced by Ksh1.1 billion, dropping from Ksh18.59 billion to Ksh17.46 billion. The adjustment excluded the Ksh3.9 billion earmarked for the AFCON hosting rights fee, effectively leaving the ministry without the resources needed to meet the April 2026 deadline.

The Ministry of Sports has acknowledged that while the AFCON 2027 hosting agreements are ready for signing, progress is stalled due to the absence of a dedicated budget line for the fee. The Budget and Appropriations Committee has maintained that fiscal constraints limit its ability to expand ministerial allocations amid a tight national budget.

LOC officials say the broader government deficit further narrows room for supplementary funding, leaving reallocation from other sectors as the only immediate option.

Kenya’s history with continental tournaments adds weight to the urgency.

In 2018, CAF stripped the country of the hosting rights for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after citing delays in stadium renovations, unmet infrastructure benchmarks and failure to honour government guarantees. Despite multiple inspection visits and warnings, Kenya was unable to fulfil contractual conditions within agreed timelines, and Morocco ultimately staged the competition.

Should Kenya fail to submit the Ksh3.9 billion ($30 million) fee within the contractual window, CAF would be within its rights to issue a notice of default. Given that AFCON 2027 is a joint venture, the governing body could choose to restructure the hosting arrangement rather than scrap it entirely.

Such a move could see Kenya’s role reduced, with matches reassigned to Uganda and Tanzania. Beyond the immediate sporting implications, any withdrawal or scaling back would dent Kenya’s commercial prospects and weaken its standing in future continental or global hosting bids.