Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim has dismissed claims that Eldoret did not deserve to be selected as one of the hosts of the 2027 African Cup of Nations.
Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa and his Kisumu counterpart Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o on Sunday claimed the government favored Eldoret at their expense due to political reasons.
The two argued that either Kisumu or Kakamega would have been the best venue due to its huge fanbase of football lovers – unlike Eldoret which is known for athletics.
But in a rebuttal, Governor Bii said the town, primed to be the country’s fifth city has far superior facilities than those in Kisumu and Kakamega.
“Eldoret is fit to host the upcoming AFCON 2027 due to the presence of Kichoge Keino Stadium that is being upgraded to have more than 20,000-seat capacity,” the county boss said in part of the statement.
“The town hosts several five-star hotels and has a bed capacity of close to 10,000,” he added.
Further, Governor Bii said despite the stadium and a robust hotel industry, Uasin Gishu and neighbouring counties have high-altitude training centres ideal for sportsmen and women.
Rich in diverse sporting activities
He also pointed out that Eldoret hosts multiple state-of-the-art private health facilities, alongside the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) which is the second-largest national referral hospital in the country.
On claims that Eldoret has no football lovers, the county boss said, “We acknowledge the rich sporting heritage of Kakamega and Kisumu and their contribution to Kenyan football but it is also important to remember that football is a sport that attracts fans across the country.”
Nyong’o and Barasa had expressed concerns that hosting AFCON in Eldoret would see most of the games witness a low number of fans.
“Eldoret has athletes and athletic fans in millions. But not soccer. And that is the naked truth. That means the AFCON matches will be played in empty stadia with very little impact,” the two said in part of their joint statement.
But Bii argues that Uasin Gishu’s passion for sports runs as deep as that of locals in Kakamega and Kisumu – and that Eldoret is ready to host an event of the AFCON magnitude.
“We are not just the land of athletics; we are also a land rich in diverse sporting activities such as volleyball, football, and javelin, among others,” the Uasin Gishu Governor said.
Kipchoge Keino has been picked as a host for AFCON alongside Nyayo Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
