Kenya’s Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has confirmed that the newly-elected government intends to submit a bid to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, joining neighbours Tanzania and Uganda who had already expressed their willingness to work together on the same.
This will be the third time Kenya will be bidding to host a major football tournament after winning the 1996 AFCON and 2018 CHAN hosting rights which the East African country failed to host.
Cheruiyot disclosed that they would push for a budgetary allocation for the renovations and upgrades of facilities ahead of the bid, atating: “Part of President William Ruto’s administration plan is to co-host the 2027 Afcon.
Personally I have talked to the President about this and I’ve pressed on him, the need to ensure that once the CS comes into office, he receives the necessary budget allocation to first of all get our stadiums (Nyayo, Kasarani, City and the six regional stadiums that we have been putting up together) up to the international level where we can be able to compete.”
“As we speak today, Harambee Stars doesn’t have a field to play in because both Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums are banned. It’s just over little adjustments; lights that are not working, security gates and water that’s not present in the stadium. I believe with a small budgetary allocation from the Sports Fund, we should be able to spruce up both stadiums, ”
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will compete with Botswana/ Namibia, Senegal, Burkina Faso etc for the right to host the 2027 AFCON.