Kenya was facing a March 30 deadline to pay Ksh3.9 billion ($30 million) fee for hosting the 2027 AFCON, with CAF officials warning the rights could be lost, while partners Tanzania and Uganda had already paid the required fee.
A statement from Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Salim Mvurya, has confirmed the East African has cleared the amount in question, clearing the way for the new Talanta Stadium to host the tournament’s final game.
Kenya has fully met its financial obligations
“I am pleased to announce the Government of Kenya has fully met its financial and institutional obligations to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as we steadily advance towards co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON),” Mvurya said in a statement obtained by Flashscore.
“In fulfilment of our commitments, the Government has remitted the requisite USD 30 million hosting fee to CAF, reaffirming Kenya’s credibility, readiness, and unwavering commitment to delivering a successful continental tournament.”
Apart from meeting the obligations, the government of Kenya has also reconstituted the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in readiness for the tournament.
Mvurya confirmed the new approach was deliberate to ensure the institutional capacity is fully aligned with the scale, complexity, and urgency of preparations required to host a tournament of AFCON’s magnitude.
“Further, the Government has constituted a restructured Multi-Agency Local Organizing Committee, bringing together key players from both the public and private sectors across all critical areas of delivery,” confirmed Mvurya.
“This multi-sectoral approach is deliberate, ensuring that our institutional capacity is fully aligned with the scale, complexity, and urgency of preparations required to host a tournament of AFCON’s magnitude.”
A few weeks ago, a team of technical experts from CAF visited three Nations that will host the next edition of the AFCON, including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The inspection visited by the technical experts enabled CAF to apply its strict, world-class delivery standards.
These include technical assessments covering pitch requirements, as well as safety, security and infrastructure readiness at key match and training venues earmarked for use during the tournament.
The visit further supported CAF’s wider objective of helping to build a stronger and more self-sustaining football ecosystem on the continent through partnerships with governments to improve facilities, delivery capability and long-term football development.
The CAF team conducted a series of inspections in Nairobi, Kenya. The programme included Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium and Talanta Sport Stadium, as well as key training sites such as the Ulinzi Sport Complex and the Kenya Academy of Sports.
Kenya to accelerate renovation works
Mvurya emphasised that Kenya will accelerate the implementation of all infrastructure and operational compliance requirements to be ready for the 2027 edition.
“Following the CAF inspection report, we will be embarking on accelerated implementation of all infrastructure and operational compliance requirements,” added Mvurya.
“These include the fast-tracked construction and upgrading of match venues, training facilities, transport and logistics systems, as well as safety, security, and broadcast standards. This is a routine but critical process in the hosting cycle, and Kenya is addressing each recommendation with precision, urgency, and accountability.”
Mvurya added: “This milestone reflects the firm commitment of H.E. President William Ruto to position our Kenya as a premier destination for global sporting events and leverage sports as a catalyst for economic growth, youth empowerment, job creation, and international prestige.”
Mvurya revisited East African nation’s commitment to stage a world class event. He said: “As the Pamoja AFCON co-hosting countries, we remain fully committed to delivering a world-class AFCON 2027 that will not only meet but exceed continental and global expectations.
“We will be convening next month to deliberate on the establishment of a harmonized framework to support the implementation of visa facilitation mechanisms to enable ease of movement for teams, officials, fans, and stakeholders across our borders, coordinated tax exemptions, customs facilitation measures, and streamlined clearance procedures for all goods, services, and activities directly related to AFCON.”
The 36th edition of the African football tournament, organised by CAF as a biennial tournament, will be staged between June 19 and July 18, 2027.
This edition of the AFCON will be the first to be hosted by three countries, and the first in five decades to be organised in the CECAFA region, since it was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.
The event will be part of the Africa Cup of Nations' 70th anniversary, and will be the last one to be held in odd-numbered years, as CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would become a quadrennial tournament from 2028 onwards.