Kenya has paid the KSh 3.9 billion hosting fee required by the Confederation of African Football, easing weeks of anxiety over the country’s status as a co-host of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The payment, equivalent to $30 million, was confirmed by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who said Kenya had now fulfilled the financial obligation within the deadline set by CAF.
The payment is a major relief for Kenyan football authorities, who had come under growing pressure after it emerged that the country had not yet remitted its share even as its East African partners had already done so. Earlier briefings by government officials warned that failure to pay by March 30, 2026 could jeopardise Kenya’s co-hosting rights and damage the credibility of the wider “East Africa Pamoja” bid.
In recent days, concern had been mounting over whether Kenya would beat the deadline. Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi told lawmakers that CAF had been clear that payment of the hosting contribution was one of the key demonstrations of commitment required from the host nations. At the same time, questions were also being raised about whether some of the country’s planned venues would be ready in time.
By completing the payment, the government has now removed one of the biggest immediate risks hanging over Kenya’s AFCON plans. Mvurya said the country has also moved to strengthen its institutional preparedness by restructuring the Multi-Agency Local Organising Committee, bringing in public and private sector expertise as preparations enter what he described as an accelerated implementation phase. That next phase will focus on fast-tracking stadium upgrades, training grounds and related transport infrastructure in line with recommendations from recent CAF inspections.
The fee payment does not, however, end all concerns. Government statements and parliamentary briefings have shown that infrastructure remains the bigger long-term test. Kenya has earmarked Talanta Sports City, Kasarani and the Raila Odinga International Stadium among the main facilities linked to the tournament, while Nyayo, Ulinzi and Police SACCO grounds are expected to serve as training venues. But previous testimony from officials indicated that delayed payments to contractors had slowed work at some stadium sites, raising fears over timelines.
Still, the remittance of the hosting fee marks an important political and sporting milestone. For Kenya, it signals that the country remains in the race to deliver one of the biggest football tournaments ever staged in the region. For the government and Football Kenya Federation, the focus now shifts from proving commitment on paper to proving readiness on the ground.
