Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chairman Nicholas Musonye has expressed confidence in Kenya’s ability and readiness to host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 tournament.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture, chaired by West West MP Dan Wanyama, Musonye, alongside AFCON CEO Anthony Lung’aho, said that Kenya is firmly on course to meet CAF requirements.
At the same time, they pleaded with the Committee to help secure additional resources to deliver a successful event.
“This is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and its implementation is carried out through a whole-of-government approach involving Ministries responsible for Sports, Interior, Health, Roads, Tourism, ICT, Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Treasury, and Transport, together with county governments and national agencies,” Musonye told the Committee.
Is Kipchoge Keino Stadium part of Kenya’s AFCON plan?
On infrastructure readiness, the Committee heard that Talanta Sports City and Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, remain the flagship venues and will be supported by Kipchoge Keino Stadium as an alternate venue.
Musonye also disclosed that the Ministry of Health and LOC are establishing comprehensive medical systems, including stadium medical facilities, ambulances, referral hospitals, emergency evacuation procedures, anti-doping services, and public health surveillance, which will all be tested through CAF readiness exercises.
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule while reacting to the presentation by LOC asked why the Committee has not met since its gazettement back in March. Further he asked how the Committee was going to handle epidemics such as Ebola.
“As we speak, we are struggling with Ebola as a region and epidemics can’t be predicted in the entire world. A few years ago we had Covid now it is Ebola. We don’t know what’s next. In your presentation I have not seen you talk about border testing of anybody coming to Kenya during that time which is very key,” Mule said.
On this, LOC told the Committee that they have already discussed with their medical teams who are qualified and will advise on how to handle it in due course.
The Committee through the Chairperson promised to do all it can to ensure there is enough budget for successful hosting of AFCON 2027.
