Governors Slam Kenya's Choice Of Stadiums For AFCON 2027

Governors Peter Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu) and Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) have criticised the move by President William Ruto's government to select four stadiums that will host the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Kenya.

In a joint statement on Sunday, October 1, Nyong'o and Barasa complained that the choice of stadiums for Africa's prestigious tournament meant that Western Kenya was sidelined in terms of participation in the football event.

"The UDA government has announced that the AFCON 2027 football matches shall be held in Nairobi and Eldoret.

"This, in our view, is a tragic decision. Western Kenya should have been included with either matches being held in Kisumu or Kakamega," read the statement in part.

Side-by-side image of Kisumu governor, Anyang' Nyong'o and his Kakamega counterpart, Fernandes Barasa. /ANYANG' NYONG'O.FERNANDES BARASA

The governors went on to state that the Western region boasts the most number of football fans compared to the Rift Valley region, specifically Eldoret whose Kipchoge Keino stadium was chosen to host AFCON 2027 matches.

They believed that the stadiums in their respective counties would experience success, in terms of the turnout of football fans, and that the impact of hosting matches in Eldoret where most residents follow athletics would not be felt.

"The success of the matches will be on the turn up at the stadia where the matches will be held. 

"Eldoret has athletes and athletic fans in millions. But not soccer. And that is the naked truth. This means the Afcon matches will be played in empty stadia with very little impact," they went on.

Nyong'o and Barasa claimed that the decision by the government might deny the Western region the opportunity to host the games because the governors are "not shareholders in the Kenya Kwanza Company Limited."

"That would be extremely myopic as the President was representing the Republic of Kenya when he teamed with our colleagues in the East African Community.

"Coming back home, he seems to have changed the goalpost. That's unfortunate," the county bosses went on.

They nonetheless called on President Ruto's government to reconsider the choice of stadia under the East Africa 'Pamoja' bid for the sake of Western Kenya, adding that Uganda and Tanzania considered venues that are spread out across different regions.

"It should be noted that our neighbours who are cohosting the tournament with us, under the PAMOJA proposal, have each chosen three venues namely: Uganda-Kampala, Lira and Hoima; Tanzania-Dar e Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha. Why can’t we do the same in Kenya?" they posed.

The Kenyan government will be required to have stadiums that meet the required standards ahead of time and demonstrate that its transport infrastructure will be able to handle the human traffic that will be flying into the country for the highly-anticipated tournament.

Kenya will also be required to have adequate accommodation facilities to host the teams, technical staff, delegates, VIPs and visitors.