AFCON 2027 at Risk? Kenya Scrambles for $30M as Parliament Rejects Budget Boost
Kenya is racing against time to secure alternative funding after Parliament rejected a proposed budget increase needed to meet its $30 million (KSh 3.9 billion) commitment to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The payment forms part of the “Pamoja” joint hosting agreement that saw Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania awarded the rights to stage Africa Cup of Nations. While Uganda and Tanzania have reportedly settled their financial obligations, Kenya is yet to remit its share ahead of the April 2026 deadline.
Kenya’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) has warned that the payment is critical to safeguarding the country’s hosting status. The funds are earmarked for large-scale preparations, including stadium renovations, construction of training facilities, and upgrades to security and transport infrastructure in designated host cities.
CAF inspection teams have already toured key venues such as Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani Stadium), Nyayo National Stadium, Talanta Sports Stadium, and Ulinzi Sports Complex to assess compliance with international standards. With 24 teams set to participate, CAF is closely monitoring progress across all host nations.
However, the rejection by Parliament’s Budget and Appropriations Committee has dealt a blow to the Sports Ministry. Officials indicate that hosting agreements cannot be finalized without a dedicated allocation for the CAF fee. With fiscal constraints tightening and the national budget deficit limiting additional spending, government sources suggest reallocation from other departments may be the only immediate solution.
The situation revives painful memories of 2018, when Kenya lost the rights to host the African Nations Championship due to stalled infrastructure upgrades, with the tournament eventually moved to Morocco.
Failure to meet the $30 million obligation within the agreed timeframe could prompt CAF to issue a notice of default. Given that AFCON 2027 is a joint bid, CAF could opt to reassign Kenya’s matches to Uganda and Tanzania rather than cancel the tournament outright—an outcome that would significantly dent Kenya’s regional sporting ambitions.
