Kenya risks losing AFCON hosting rights over lack of funding

Mwangi told the Dan Wanyama-led National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture that Kenya is required to pay the fee by March 30, 2026, as part of the ‘East Africa Pamoja’ bid along with Uganda and Tanzania.

Both Uganda and Tanzania have already fulfilled their financial obligations, leaving Kenya as the only partner yet to pay, and Mwangi warned that if the fee was not paid before the deadline, it threatens to damage Kenya's credibility as a tournament host.

“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 they have paid but Kenya is yet to pay its share of about 3.9 billion.

“And therefore the gains that we have so far made 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. And one of the commitment is payment of the hosting contribution. If we are not able to raise that then our hosting will be jeopardised,” PS Mwangi told the MPs.

Mwangi also told the committee that the Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums may not be ready within the next six months as per the CAF deadline.

He stated that the company contracted to renovate the Kasarani Stadium had reduced its workforce due to a Ksh 3.7 billion debt, while the contractor at the Nyayo Stadium had walked away from the site due to a Ksh 2.7-billion debt.

“...of Kasarani Stadium, we owe the contractor in excess of Ksh3.7 billion. And the contractor has realigned—reduced his workforce. And with that, we feel that we may not be ready within six months, the deadline that was given by CAF to have the competition and training venues ready.

“Equally, the Nyayo, we have not paid in excess of Ksh2.6 billion to the contractor who was contracted, let alone additional works of putting canopy. And the contractor has already vacated the site. Therefore, we have nothing to show,” he added.

This development comes barely a month after the Committee rejected a proposal by the Sports Ministry to increase its budget allocation for the AFCON from Ksh.3.5 billion to Ksh.5 billion terming the justification inadequate.

The Sports Ministry had sought the committee’s intervention to have the Ksh.3.5 billion included in a supplementary budget to enable Kenya meet its obligations and avoid jeopardising its standing with CAF.

In defending the proposed budget increment, Mwangi said he had led a delegation, including officials from Football Kenya, on a benchmarking visit during the last AFCON tournament in Morocco.

“We established that for Kenya to match the standards set during the competition in Morocco, we must enhance the budget,” he said on February 19.

However, MPs maintained that Kenya’s financial commitment must reflect the tournament's shared nature.

He insisted that co-hosting with two other countries should ease the fiscal burden.

Despite rejecting the proposed increment, the committee assured the Ministry of its support in engaging the National Treasury to release the required hosting fee.

According to the Budget Policy Statement, the proposed ceiling for the Sports Department in the 2026/27 financial year stands at Ksh.25.49 billion, comprising Ksh.7.38 billion for recurrent expenditure and Ksh.18.11 billion for development.