Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba on Thursday, May 18 revealed that the government will cough Ksh4 billion to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) showpiece in 2027.
Appearing on Citizen TV, the CS stated that the joint bid by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania requires a total of Ksh12 billion to be paid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in order to host the continental tournament.
“We have already divided the total amount. Everyone contributes Ksh4 billion (USD30 million).
“The money needs to be paid if the bid is accepted but we are ready,” stated Namwamba.
Moreover, he stated that hosting the tourney was not an off-the-cuff plan but was part and parcel of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, colloquially known as the Plan.
Additionally, he stated that only two stadiums will be used if the bid is successful – Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani Stadium, both in Nairobi.
Concerning Nyayo Stadium, Namwamba stated that Ksh1 billion will be used to upgrade the stadium to international standards.
The sports docket plans to phase out the old flood lights and install modern ones. They will also construct a canopy to cover the fans from the elements.
Furthermore, they will introduce a system for numbering all seats and the tickets should indicate corresponding seat numbers.
They also plan to fix the playing surface to make it even and improve the pitch's drainage system.
On May 15, President William Ruto announced that Kenya has submitted a joint bid together with Uganda and Tanzania. The bid is titled East African Community Pamoja bid for the AFCON 2027.
“We are focused on harnessing the full potential of each sector for our prosperity.
“This sector is a giant wellspring of opportunities. We will ensure we place Kenya on its rightful position as a sporting superpower,” Ruto stated.
