A joint parliamentary Sports Committee has backed Kenya’s preparedness to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after inspecting the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi.
The lawmakers toured the 60,000-seater facility to assess its readiness to host matches when Kenya stages the continental tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
National Assembly Sports and Culture Committee Chair Dan Wanyama said the inspection had given the committee confidence that Kenya was on course to meet its hosting obligations.
“Today, the Committee on Sports and Culture had a tour to come and see the preparedness of Kenya to host AFCON and to see the state of the infrastructure that will host the games,” Wanyama said.
He said the committee was satisfied with the progress at the stadium, adding that only minor works remained.
“As a committee, our tour has given us an indication that all is well and Kenya will be in a position to host AFCON because so far what is remaining is so minor.”
The stadium is being developed under the Talanta Sports City project, with the Ministry of Defence supervising the works while the Ministry of Sports provides funding.
Wanyama said the committee had seen value in the investment and urged Kenyans to judge the project by visiting the facility.
“When you walk around, you see there is value for money,” he said.
The committee was informed that the remaining auxiliary works are expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.
Wanyama said the Kenya Defence Forces, which is supervising the works, had given the committee an assurance that the deadline would be met.
“The Ministry of Defence who are the supervisors have given us the assurance that the small things that were remaining, they will be done by 31st of December this year. The stadium will be ready for action,” he said.
The committee’s assessment comes amid questions over whether Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will complete preparations in time for AFCON 2027.
Asked about reports that CAF could consider alternative venues or countries, Wanyama dismissed the possibility and said the continental governing body was monitoring preparations in Kenya.
Wanyama added that a CAF representative was already in the country overseeing developments and providing updates to the football body.
He said the committee was also concerned about what would happen to the stadium after AFCON, urging Sports Kenya to develop a long-term plan for its maintenance.
“After AFCON, we must know how we are going to preserve and maintain this, because that is the elephant in the house,” he said.
Furthermore, Wanyama said lawmakers had proposed policies and regulations to guide the commercialisation of the facility so it can generate revenue and remain properly maintained after the tournament.
The committee was accompanied by AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee Chairperson Nicholas Musonye, Sports Kenya Director General Timothy Kiplimo, Secretary Administrative for Sports Josephine Ouko and other senior Ministry of Sports officials.
With the remaining works targeted for completion by December 31, attention now turns to finalising the facility and ensuring it is ready for AFCON 2027.
