Kenya is facing a March 30 deadline to pay Ksh3.9 billion ($30 million) fee for hosting the 2027 AFCON, with officials warning the rights could be lost, while partners Tanzania and Uganda have paid the required fee.
“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 have paid but Kenya is yet to pay its share of about 3.9 billion,” Kenya’s Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi said in a recent interview.
“And therefore, the gains we have made so far 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.”
AFCON budget not in current budget
Elijah Mwangi has now confirmed there was adequate time provided by CAF to Kenya to comply with key requirements chief among them the payment of ksh 3.9 billion as requisite hosting fee.
While giving a brief on the status of Kenya’s preparedness for 2027 FCON, the PS stated the discussions between the department and Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture resolved to write and request the National Treasury to allocate the money that will cater for AFCON hosting fee as a matter of priority.
“We have until the 30th March to pay the Ksh 3.9 billion AFCON hosting fee and I am glad during our appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on Sports, we agreed to write and request treasury for that money in the supplementary,” said PS Mwangi.
The PS further noted that as Pamoja nations, Kenya placed a bid for hosting AFCON alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The latter two have already paid but Kenya has until March 30 to pay the required monies.
‘There is adequate time’
Mwangi clarified the issue was not lack of money on the part of the government but the money not being in the current budget.
“We don’t feel it is a big problem because the government has money. The issue is the money is not in our current budget,” explained Mwangi.
“This being a supplementary period, we felt the money should be put in the supplementary budget.”
He expressed confidence when the supplementary budget was being approved, the money for AFCON will be in the budget.
The PS moved to allay the anxiety of Kenyans over AFCON 2027 stating all CAF deadlines including payment of requisite hosting fee as well as other obligations will be met fully.
“There is no need for worrying. There is adequate time to get the money and pay before March 30th. Kenyans should not be worried.”
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.
