By Andrew Kariuki
The Government of Kenya has announced that it has fully met its financial and institutional obligations to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which it will co-host.
In a press release dated March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports confirmed that Kenya has remitted the required USD 30 million, hosting fee to CAF, reaffirming the country’s readiness to stage the continental tournament.
The government stated that the payment demonstrates Kenya’s credibility and commitment to delivering a successful AFCON, as preparations intensify toward hosting the event.
As part of the preparations, the government has established a restructured Multi-Agency Local Organizing Committee bringing together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to oversee critical areas of delivery.
According to the statement, the multi-sectoral approach is intended to align institutional capacity with the scale and complexity of hosting AFCON.
Following a CAF inspection report, the government indicated that it will now move to accelerated implementation of infrastructure and operational requirements. These include the construction and upgrading of match venues, training facilities, transport and logistics systems, as well as safety, security, and broadcast standards.
The government described this phase as a critical stage in the hosting cycle, noting that all recommendations will be implemented with urgency, precision, and accountability.
The statement further noted that the milestone reflects the commitment of President William Ruto to position Kenya as a leading destination for global sporting events, while leveraging sports to drive economic growth, youth empowerment, job creation and international recognition.
Kenya, alongside its co-hosting partners under the Pamoja AFCON framework, reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a world-class tournament that meets continental and global standards.
The government also announced plans to convene a meeting next month to deliberate on a harmonised framework to support visa facilitation, ease of movement for teams, officials, and fans, as well as coordinated tax exemptions, customs facilitation measures, and streamlined clearance procedures for goods and services related to AFCON.
The Ministry emphasized that these measures are aimed at ensuring smooth operations and seamless participation for all stakeholders involved in the tournament.
