Kenya lagging behind in settling Ksh4 billion 2027 AFCON hosting fees

Kenya is now in a race against time to settle its $30 million (approximately Ksh3.9 to 4.1 billion) hosting rights fee to the Confederation of African Football for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the April 2026 deadline fast approaching.

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The payment is Kenya’s share of the $90 million hosting fee for the 2027 tournament under the joint “East Africa Pamoja” bid alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

Each of the three co-hosts is required to contribute $30 million. However, while Tanzania and Uganda have already remitted their payments, Kenya is yet to do so.

Concerns have been raised over the absence of the hosting rights fee in the 2025/26 National Budget Estimates.

Parliamentary committees previously criticised the National Treasury for failing to factor in the amount, even as the Ministry of Sports acknowledged that Kenya is obligated to clear the Ksh3.9 billion by April 2026.

In its submission to Parliament last year, the ministry noted that although hosting agreements for AFCON 2027 had been drafted and were awaiting signing, there was no provision in the proposed annual estimates for settlement of the hosting rights fee.

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The delay comes even as Kenya commits significant resources towards infrastructure upgrades ahead of the tournament.

The government has outlined plans to spend more than Ksh57 billion on stadium construction and renovations, including the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports Stadium.

Notably, the exact months for hosting the 2027 tournament remain unclear, with some sources suggesting the competition could be pushed to 2028.

However, CAF has maintained its oversight of preparations and is set to conduct a series of inspections in Nairobi.

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The CAF team will tour Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium and the Talanta Sports Stadium, as well as key training facilities including the Ulinzi Sports Complex and the Kenya Academy of Sports.

Kenya also faced delays last year in remitting Ksh1.6 billion required for hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN), with government officials citing budget constraints due to ongoing refurbishment of tournament venues.

With tournament co-hosts having already fulfilled their financial obligations and CAF stepping up inspections, Kenya must now mobilise the required funds within the stipulated timeline to safeguard its position as one of the hosts of Africa’s flagship football tournament.