Parliament has rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Sports to increase its budget allocation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals by Sh4 billion.
Kenya are set to co-host the 36th edition of Africa’s premier national football team with Uganda and Tanzania in June and July next year.
On Thursday, National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture, which is chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama dismissed the request by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Elijah Mwangi, to raise the budget for hosting the 2027 Afcon from Sh3.5 billion to Sh7.5 billion.
A view of a section of Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The funds do not include the Sh3.5 billion that Kenya should pay to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) as the tournament’s hosting rights fees. Wanyama said Mwangi’s justification for the Afcon budget increase was “inadequate”.
“In fact, you should be cutting down your budget because the championship is being hosted by three states. Your push for an enhanced allocation should not be based on a country that single-handedly hosted Afcon,” stated Wanyama.
The funds should be used to cater for several expenses including security, volunteers, ambulance hire, medical supply and catering services.
Mwangi said the proposal to increase the budget for 2027 Afcon is based on findings from a benchmarking mission in Morocco during the 2025 Afcon hosted last month.
A general view inside Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat before the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Senegal on January 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
“We established that for Kenya to match the standards set during the competition in Morocco, we must enhance the budget,” the PS said.
However, the MPs maintained that co-hosting the tournament should ease the fiscal burden on Kenya.
Despite rejecting the proposed Afcon budget increase, the committee assured the Ministry of Sports of its support in engaging the National Treasury to release the Sh 3.5 billion required for hosting rights fee. The deadline to make the payment is this April.
The Sports Ministry had sought the committee’s intervention to have the Sh3.5 billion Afcon hosting rights fees included in a supplementary budget to enable Kenya meet its obligations and avoid jeopardising its standing with Caf.
According to the PS, Uganda and Tanzania have already made the payment.
President William Ruto and ODM party leader Raila Odinga share a light moment with Harambee Stars team captain Aboud Omar after Kenya beat Zambia 1-0 in a Group 'A' match of the 2024 African Nations Championship at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 17, 2025.
Photo credit: PCS
“Uganda and Tanzania, who are our co-hosts, have already complied by paying the required fee to secure the hosting rights,” Mwangi told the committee during deliberations on the 2026 Budget Policy Statement.
According to the Budget Policy Statement, the proposed ceiling for the Sports Department in the 2026/27 financial year stands at Sh25.49 billion.
The figure includes Sh7.38 billion for recurrent expenditure, and Sh18.11 billion for development.
