Kenya reaffirms 2027 AFCON readiness as Pamoja Bloc advances joint hosting plans

Kenya has stepped up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya outlining renewed momentum in the country’s joint hosting bid alongside its East African partners under the Pamoja framework.

Speaking after a high-level meeting with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe and fellow sports ministers from the region, Mvurya described the engagement as a crucial milestone in refining the operational foundations for the tournament.

“It was my distinct honour to host the President of CAF Motsepe, alongside fellow PAMOJA Ministers of Sports and Presidents of the Pamoja Federations, as we advanced strategic consultations on the joint hosting preparations for the 2027 AFCON,” Mvurya said.

He noted that the discussions focused on establishing a structured framework to guide preparations, including governance systems, coordination mechanisms, and financing models required to deliver a successful tournament.

“We jointly assessed the operational grounding framework that will provide direction towards the establishment of critical hosting structures, harmonised government policies, coordination mechanisms, and sustainable financial frameworks necessary for the successful delivery of the continental tournament,” he added.

According to Mvurya, the latest meeting builds on earlier engagements held in Kampala, where East African nations agreed on a roadmap and implementation matrix to guide their respective responsibilities ahead of the tournament.

“The meeting builds on the resolutions of the Kampala Kick-off Meeting, where the PAMOJA countries laid out the roadmap and implementation matrix for our respective countries’ preparations,” he said.

He further emphasized the bloc’s confidence in CAF leadership and the joint capacity of East African nations to stage a landmark continental competition.

“We warmly welcomed Motsepe’s continued confidence in the PAMOJA bid and East Africa’s collective capability to rewrite history by successfully staging one of the most iconic football tournaments on the continent,” Mvurya stated.

The 2027 edition of AFCON will mark the 70th anniversary of Africa’s premier football competition. It will also be the final edition staged in an odd-numbered year before CAF transitions the tournament to a four-year cycle starting from 2028.