Kenya’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is facing fresh uncertainty following a significant budget cut to the State Department for Sports, casting doubt on the country’s financial commitment to the continental football showpiece.
In the 2025/26 budget estimates tabled in Parliament this week, the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) slashed KSh1.1 billion from the State Department’s allocation — reducing the earlier proposed figure from KSh18.59 billion to KSh17.46 billion.
The revised budget fails to include the KSh3.9 billion needed to settle Kenya’s AFCON 2027 co-hosting rights fee.
Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, was awarded the rights to host the 36th edition of AFCON.
However, the financial omission now threatens to derail Kenya’s ability to meet its hosting obligations, with the fee due by April 2026.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya had earlier urged Parliament to urgently factor in the required funds, warning that the failure to do so could breach Kenya’s agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“The hosting agreements have been drafted and require signing,” the Ministry emphasized in a submission dated May 19, 2025.
Despite a clear warning from the Committee on Sports and Culture, which flagged the omission as a potential threat to Kenya’s AFCON status, the BAC offered no remedy, opting against any additional ministry allocations in this budget cycle.
