Ruto underscores Kenya's commitment to host AFCON 2027

President William Ruto Monday afternoon received the document detailing Kenya's joint bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, flanked by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa presented the document to Ruto at State House, Nairobi ahead of the official launch set for Wednesday.

Kenya has teamed up with neighbours Tanzania and Uganda in the plan dubbed the “Pamoja” bid to bring the coveted continental showpiece to the East Africa region for the first time in history.

The President mandated Sports CS Ababu Namwamba to engage his counterparts from Uganda and Tanzania so that the three East African nations can successfully win the bid to host the biggest football competition in the continent.

“The work of prosecuting our joint bid now begins in earnest, and Kenya intends to make its full contribution to it. Hon Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, is duly seized of this assignment, and is mobilising his team, liaising with his counterparts in Uganda and Tanzania to formulate a winning bid so that the people of our countries can look forward to participating in a successful 2027 tournament.

“We hope that our joint bid will motivate all our sides not only to qualify for the 2027 tournament, but also excel beyond previous achievements,” averred the President.

If Kenya and her allies win the bid, the burden will be to ensure there are enough venues for official matches and training, as at recording of this account, only Tanzania among the three has a stadium meeting CAF standards for AFCON matches – the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Kenya has twice been stripped of hosting rights of CAF prime events, the 1996 AFCON and the 2018 CHAN due to lack of enough sporting infrastructure.

On Sunday night during an interview with journalists, President Ruto said that he can now be asked about the stadia promises he made while serving under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.