Parliamentary Committee raises alarm over lack of funding for AFCON hosting rights
Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations face a major financial hurdle, with Parliament’s Sports Committee warning of a critical budget shortfall. Lawmakers have flagged the lack of allocation for the Sh3.9 billion hosting rights fee as a threat to the country’s credibility, raising fresh doubts about readiness ahead of the continental showpiece.
The Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture has raised concerns over a looming budget deficit that could undermine Kenya's preparedness to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
According to the Committee the absence of funding for key obligations, most notably the Sh3.9 billion hosting rights fee due by April 2026, threatens to damage Kenya's credibility as a tournament host.
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"Kenya is scheduled to host AFCON 2027 alongside Tanzania and Uganda. However, there is no provision in the proposed annual estimates for payment of hosting rights amounting to Sh3.9 billion, which should be paid by April 2026," the committee observed in a recent report.
Despite a national budget of Sh4.2 trillion for the 2025–2026 financial year, the sports sector has been experiencing funding cuts, with the State Department for Sports allocated Sh17.46 billion, which is less than the Sh18.59 billion initially proposed by the exchequer.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) further slashed development funding to Sh15.84 billion while increasing recurrent expenditure to Sh1.63 billion, but made no provision for the AFCON hosting costs.
Further, the final budget estimates from BAC excluded the required allocation for AFCON hosting rights, casting doubt on Kenya's preparedness for the tournament.
The BAC has also ruled out any additional allocations to ministries for the current fiscal year, deepening concerns about Kenya's readiness.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has previously urged prioritisation of AFCON-related funding, and all eyes are now on the National Assembly's decision on the BAC report, which will shape the upcoming budget statement by Treasury CS John Mbadi.
"The hosting agreements for Afcon 2027 have been drafted and require signing, along with the settlement of Sh3.9 billion. Kenya is obligated to pay the hosting rights fee by April 2026. This amount has not been provided in the FY 2025/26 Budget Estimates," Mvurya said in a past statement.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, were officially selected to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a decision announced in August 2024. This marked the return of the tournament to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976.
Nairobi's successful bid came after Algeria's unexpected withdrawal from the 2027 race, leaving the Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania trio as the chosen hosts.
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