Kenyan government pledges to beat CAF deadline on hosting 2027 AFCON
Kenya must meet a March 30 deadline to settle the Ksh3.9 billion ($30 million) hosting fee for the 2027 AFCON, as officials caution that failure to do so could result in losing the rights, whereas co-hosts Tanzania and Uganda have already fulfilled their payments.
“We have been given up to 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,” stated Kenya’s Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi during a recent interview.
“And therefore, the gains we have made so far in preparations for AFCON may be jeopardised if we are not able to raise 3.9 billion by 30th of March and the communications we have had from CAF, they are very particular that we must show commitment.”
AFCON budget absent from current allocations
Elijah Mwangi has verified that CAF allowed Kenya sufficient time to meet essential conditions, primarily the Ksh3.9 billion hosting fee.
In updating on Kenya’s readiness for the 2027 AFCON, the Principal Secretary mentioned that talks with the Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture led to a decision to formally ask the National Treasury to prioritise funding for the hosting fee.
“We have until the 30th March to pay the Ksh 3.9 billion AFCON hosting fee and I am glad during our appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on Sports, we agreed to write and request treasury for that money in the supplementary,” PS Mwangi remarked.
The Principal Secretary added that as part of the Pamoja initiative, Kenya bid jointly with Uganda and Tanzania for the AFCON hosting. The other two nations have completed their contributions, leaving Kenya with the March 30 cutoff to follow suit.
‘Sufficient timeframe available’
Mwangi emphasised that the challenge stems not from a shortage of funds in the government but from their omission in the existing budget.
“We don’t feel it is a big problem because the government has money. The issue is the money is not in our current budget,” Mwangi elaborated.
“This being a supplementary period, we felt the money should be put in the supplementary budget.”
He voiced optimism that the AFCON allocation would feature in the forthcoming supplementary budget approval.
The Principal Secretary reassured Kenyans regarding the 2027 AFCON preparations, affirming that all CAF requirements, including the hosting fee and additional duties, would be addressed completely.
“There is no need for worrying. There is adequate time to get the money and pay before March 30th. Kenyans should not be worried.”
The 36th instalment of this African football event, managed by CAF on a biennial basis, is scheduled from June 19 to July 18, 2027.
This AFCON will mark the inaugural hosting by three nations and the first in the CECAFA area in half a century, following Ethiopia’s 1976 edition.
It coincides with the Africa Cup of Nations’ 70th anniversary and will be the final one in odd years, following CAF’s December 2025 declaration shifting AFCON to a quadrennial format starting in 2028.