Ruto Reacts To Kenya Winning Bid To Host 2027 AFCON

President William Ruto has remarked that Kenya's victory in the bid to host the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Tanzania and Uganda was a result of positive fruits from ongoing reforms in the sports sector.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 27 during the Nairobi International Trade Fair at ASK Grounds in Nairobi, the Head of State praised Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba and other stakeholders for successfully spearheading the bid to host the continental showpiece for the first time in East and Central Africa. 

"I want to thank our Minister for Sports and all the stakeholders in that sector for the plan to transform the sports sector that is now bearing fruit.

"Many people never believed that we had a chance of hosting AFCON in 2027 because of the state of our football and the state of our sports in general, but I'm very proud today that Kenya, together with our partners in Uganda and Tanzania, jointly we have won the right to host AFCON 2027," he addressed.

Ruto promised that he would mobilize all resources as well as involve every sector and every Kenyan to ensure that the country delivers a football event fit to satisfy international standards.

This also includes upgrades to the necessary infrastructure in line with the demands that come with the hosting rights, including the handling of thousands of fans streaming into the country for the football event.

"We are very proud of this achievement. We will now mobilize every resource...every person and every sector to make sure that we deliver a world-class football event. 

"We will make sure that whatever infrastructural facilities that are required will be made available to make sure that we move Kenya to the next level in our sports industry," he added.

Kenya was among three countries that submitted a joint bid under the “Pamoja” bid to host the biggest football tournament in Africa and defeated the likes of Senegal, Botswana, and Egypt.

The tournament is hosted bi-annually, and is planned and funded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), a continental football governing body.

During the event, Kenya was represented by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa.

East Africa's Pamoja bid emerged as the best during the CAF executive meeting chaired in Cairo by its president, Patrice Motsepe.

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.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe unveiled the 2027 AFCON hosts in Cairo on September 27, 2023. /X

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

The successful bid means the Ministry of Sports commences plans to revamp three stadiums to meet international standards including Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, and Kipchoge Keino Stadium (Eldoret) respectively.

The government is also planning to build the Talanta Stadium at the Jamhuri Sports Grounds in Nairobi, a football-rugby-only stadium with a sitting capacity of 50,000.