Kenya's AFCON 2027 preparations on track ahead of January deadline, CS Elijah Mwangi

Kenya's preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are gathering momentum, with the government expressing confidence that the country will be ready for the continental showpiece it is co-hosting alongside Uganda and Tanzania under the Pamoja AFCON arrangement.

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports, Elijah Mwangi, says work is progressing well at the facilities earmarked to host matches — including the Raila Odinga International Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani — and that a recent inspection by the Confederation of African Football returned encouraging results.

A CAF delegation that visited Kenya in the last week of August to inspect stadiums and other tournament-related infrastructure expressed satisfaction with the progress made, particularly at the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City, which has emerged as the centrepiece of Kenya's hosting bid.

“We are progressing very well as Pamoja countries as we edge closer to hosting AFCON 2027," Mwangi said. "Last week of August we received a delegation from CAF who came to inspect our stadia and we are very grateful because when they came they saw good work and expressed satisfaction, especially on Talanta Stadium."

The PS says construction at the venues has reached 95 per cent completion against the initial design specifications, exceeding the 80 per cent target CAF had set for August when it last visited in February.

“When they came in February this year they had given us a target of 80 percent by August, and when they came back they were able to identify areas that they wished we need to work on, but those are new requirements. The requirements as per design have essentially been done. As per the initial design, we are at 95 percent completion,” Mwangi explained.

Among the additional areas now being addressed following the August inspection are the expansion of the media tribune and the press conference room — new recommendations identified during the visit that go beyond the original design brief. Mwangi says these are being worked on and do not represent a setback to the overall programme.

The update comes at a time when Kenya's domestic football ecosystem is under significant strain, with the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season yet to kick off due to an ongoing legal dispute over promotion and relegation regulations. FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga warned this week that the country cannot afford to enter the AFCON hosting period with domestic football paralysed by institutional disputes.

With AFCON 2027 less than a year away, the government's message is clear — on the infrastructure front at least, Kenya is on course and ready to welcome Africa.