An artistic impression of the Talanta Hela Stadium whose construction started on March 1, 2024 at Jamhuri ground along Ngong Road, in Nairobi.
Kenya will co-host the 2027 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) with Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 18, 2027, leaving exactly 535 days until the continental football jamboree.
The clock is ticking, with Kenya’s level of preparedness under close scrutiny.
Will all the stadiums be ready? Will Kenya provide enough training facilities? When will the Local Organising Committee (LOC) begin work in earnest?
Given that Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda co-hosted the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan), the answers to these questions are predictable.
High-powered delegations from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will land in Nairobi regularly to assess progress on stadium and training facility construction.
The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, shadowed by members of the Afcon 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Football Kenya Federation officials, will hold hastily convened press conferences to “reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring that Kenya will be ready to host Afcon in 2027.”
Harambee Stars players during their 2024 Chan Group 'A' match against Morocco at Kasarani on August 10, 2025.
For cinematic effect, some of the press conferences could take place at Talanta Stadium, the concrete and steel behemoth that sprouted from the ground with remarkable speed in March 2024 and is now redefining the Nairobi skyline.
Yet the incomplete Talanta Stadium towers over the Ngong Forest Sanctuary, a reminder of a missed deadline. It should have been ready for use by December 2025, but its official opening has now been pushed to March. That is 60 to 90 days away, early enough for the 2027 championship.
Still, the multi-billion-shilling Talanta Stadium, whose funding remains unclear, will not be enough for the 2027 Afcon.
Required amenities and infrastructure
Co-hosting a 24-team tournament with Tanzania and Uganda means more stadiums will be needed. Kenya will host two groups of four teams each.
Hence, at least one more stadium will be required to serve the two groups.
Kasarani and Nyayo underwent significant renovations for the delayed 2004 Chan last year.
The iconic Kenyan sports facilities were converted to all-seater venues and fitted with amenities and infrastructure required by CAF.
Getting them ready for Afcon 2027 should take minimal effort, so long as their readiness is maintained.
Stories of venues hosting other activities that lead to facility damage are a cause for concern.
A case in point was on October 16, when Kasarani Stadium was used as a venue for the public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body. Property damage attributed to the large crowd that attended the function was estimated to run into millions of shillings.
Talanta Sports City Stadium under construction in Nairobi on November 14, 2025.
Kakamega’s Bukhungu Stadium and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret were proposed as possible alternative venues in the Pamoja bid document but are unlikely to be ready, if at all.
Bukhungu Stadium has been hosting FKF Premier League matches with terraces under construction. Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret remains closed for renovation.
With 18 months to go until Afcon 2027, the two stadiums can be labeled “wait and see” in terms of being ready to host matches, or even as training grounds.
Kenya put in tremendous effort to get Kasarani and Nyayo ready to host matches during Chan 2024 but still fell short. The lighting at MISC was decidedly poor, and so too was the playing pitch grass. There were also questions about the inadequacies of the press center.
Kenya could not provide enough training facilities to host two groups during Chan. Only Kasarani Annex and the Police Sacco Stadium were deemed fit for use by CAF, forcing organizers to shift one group, originally slated to be based in Nairobi, to Zanzibar. The other training facility that Kenya provided – the Ulinzi Sports Complex – was chosen by CAF for use by referees.
Kenya will host two groups in 2027 Afcon, meaning there must be at least four training pitches that meet CAF’s specifications.
Harambee Stars fans at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani for the 2024 Chan quarter final match between Kenya and Madagascar.
Kenya launched the Pamoja Chan 2024 and Pamoja Afcon 2027 Multi-Agency Team on December 11, 2024, comprising the Project Oversight Council, the National Steering Committee, and the Secretariat.
Veteran football administrator an d former journalist Nicholas Musonye was appointed chairman of the Local Organising Committee.
“Hosting Chan 2024 and Afcon 2027 is more than just a sporting event; it is an opportunity to showcase Kenya’s talent, infrastructure, and hospitality to the world. The Pamoja initiative symbolizes our collective effort as a nation to deliver an unforgettable experience for players, fans, and stakeholders,” the then Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said during the unveiling of the team to deliver the two tournaments.
2024 Chan Local Organising Committee chairman Nicholas Musonye speaks to journalists at Nyayo National Stadium on March 25, 2025.
“As per your terms of reference, you have a free hand to develop a strategy and a roadmap to execute this task. The only rider is to do everything within the confines of the law and in the best interest of the country. We are giving you the authority to do everything in your power to deliver successful competitions efficiently and on budget,” said the CS.
Budgetary constraints bogged down preparations for 2024 Chan. What is the budget for preparations this year?
The government will need to put in heavy resources to ensure the Pamoja team delivers an Afcon that cements Kenya’s reputation as a major sports destination.
