Kenya risks losing its rights to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to delays in paying the mandatory Ksh 3.9 billion ($30 million) hosting fee to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi warned on Thursday, March 19.
Mwangi briefed the Dan Wanyama-led National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture, noting that Kenya must settle the fee by March 30, 2026, as part of the ‘East Africa Pamoja’ bid alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
While Uganda and Tanzania have already paid their shares, Kenya remains the only partner yet to meet its financial commitment. Mwangi cautioned that failing to pay on time could hurt Kenya’s credibility as a tournament host.
“We have been given until the 30th of March to clear the payment of the hosting fees. We are aware that our ‘Pamoja’ countries of Uganda and Tanzania have paid, but Kenya is yet to pay its share of about 3.9 billion.
“And therefore the gains that we have so far made in preparations for AFCON may be jeopardised if we are not able to raise 3.9 billion by the 30th of March, and the communications we have had from CAF, they are very particular that we must show commitment. And one of the commitments is payment of the hosting contribution. If we are not able to raise that, then our hosting will be jeopardised,” PS Mwangi told the MPs.
Mwangi further warned that the Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums may not be ready within six months, as required by CAF.
He explained that the contractor renovating Kasarani Stadium reduced its workforce due to a Ksh 3.7 billion debt, while the Nyayo Stadium contractor abandoned the site over a Ksh 2.7 billion debt.
“…of Kasarani Stadium, we owe the contractor in excess of Ksh3.7 billion. And the contractor has realigned and reduced his workforce. And with that, we feel that we may not be ready within six months, the deadline that was given by CAF to have the competition and training venues ready.
“Equally, the Nyayo, we have not paid in excess of Ksh2.6 billion to the contractor who was contracted, let alone additional works of putting up a canopy. And the contractor has already vacated the site. Therefore, we have nothing to show,” he added.
This comes a month after the Committee rejected the Sports Ministry’s request to increase the AFCON budget from Ksh 3.5 billion to Ksh 5 billion, saying the justification was inadequate.
The Ministry had asked for the extra funds to be included in a supplementary budget to meet Kenya’s obligations and safeguard its standing with CAF.
Defending the request, Mwangi said he led a delegation, including Football Kenya officials, on a benchmarking visit during the last AFCON in Morocco. “We established that for Kenya to match the standards set during the competition in Morocco, we must enhance the budget,” he highlighted on February 19.
However, MPs insisted that Kenya’s financial responsibility should reflect the shared nature of co-hosting. Mwangi argued that co-hosting with two other countries should reduce the financial burden.
Despite rejecting the increase, the Committee promised to support the Ministry in lobbying the National Treasury to release the hosting fee.
According to the Budget Policy Statement, the proposed ceiling for the Sports Department in the 2026/27 financial year is Ksh 25.49 billion, with Ksh 7.38 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure and Ksh 18.11 billion for development.
