AFCON 2027: What Parliament Rejecting Budget Increase Means for Kenya's $30 Million CAF Payment

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is awaiting a $30 million payment from Kenya, a crucial financial commitment required for the nation to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

This fee is part of the "Pamoja" joint bid that saw Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania awarded the rights to stage the prestigious tournament.

While Uganda and Tanzania have already fulfilled their financial obligations, Kenya is yet to remit its share. According to the hosting agreement, all three nations must pay their respective contributions before the April 2026 deadline.

Kenya's Local Organising Committee (LOC) has stressed the importance of this payment, highlighting it as essential for securing the country's hosting status and preventing potential issues with CAF.

The funds are designated for extensive tournament preparations, including the construction and renovation of stadiums, the development of training facilities, and upgrades to security and transport infrastructure in host cities.

With 24 teams participating, the continental event places significant demands on the host nations, and CAF is closely monitoring their progress.

CAF inspection teams have already visited potential venues in Kenya, such as Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, Talanta Sports Stadium, and the Ulinzi Sports Complex, to evaluate their readiness and compliance with international standards.

However, the payment requirement comes at a difficult time for Kenya's sports ministry. Officials have confirmed that while the hosting agreements are prepared, they cannot be signed without a dedicated budget allocation for the fee.

The parliamentary Budget and Appropriations Committee has indicated that tight fiscal constraints prevent it from increasing the ministry's funding.

According to Africa Soccer, the LOC sources suggest that the national budget deficit leaves little room for supplementary funds, making reallocation from other government departments the most viable short-term solution.

This situation is particularly concerning given Kenya's past experiences. In 2018, the country was stripped of the rights to host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) due to significant delays in stadium renovations and a failure to meet infrastructure benchmarks.

Despite repeated warnings, Kenya could not fulfil its contractual obligations, and the tournament was moved to Morocco.

If Kenya fails to pay the Ksh3.9 billion ($30 million) fee within the specified timeframe, CAF could issue a notice of default.

Since AFCON 2027 is a joint venture, the governing body might opt to restructure the tournament by reassigning Kenya's matches to Uganda and Tanzania rather than cancelling the entire bid.