Like 1996, does Kenya risk losing Afcon hosting rights?

Were we even ready in the first place?

Would you believe this is the same question that haunted the souls of Kenyan football faithful 32 years ago? 

In November 1994, news broke that Kenya had withdrawn from hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for the first two months of 1996. 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), then led by retired President Issa Hayatou, had granted Kenya hosting rights a year earlier.

As expected, excitement was already building up, as it would be the first time ordinary Kenyans got a glimpse of world football stars, including Ghana’s Abedi Pele and Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya. The then Ministry of Culture and Social Services, under Malim Mohamed, said the budget for the tournament had skyrocketed to about six times the initial estimate, and it would be a heavy burden for the Kenyan taxpayer to bear. 

The decision ultimately saw hosting rights given to South Africa, who were just coming out of apartheid. Bafana Bafana went on to win the title, and the tournament was considered a landmark event backed by Nelson Mandela. 

In March 2017, Hayatou revealed the late President Daniel Toroitich Moi had written him a letter, confirming Kenya would not be able to host the competition. During a screening of a documentary on the Football Evolution in Africa during the 39th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Hayatou revealed that Moi informed him the country was not prepared. 

At the time, there were reports of reluctance of the government of the day investing in new stadium infrastructure, as well as political tensions involving the then Kenya Football Federation (KFF) leadership under outspoken opposition MP Joab Omino. 

Fast forward to 2026, and Nairobians who use the busy Ngong Road daily watch the magnificence of the upcoming Talanta City Stadium with fear. After the recent statements made by Sports PS Elijah Mwangi, Kenya’s preparedness is under renewed scrutiny, with growing concerns that history might repeat itself. 

“We are aware that our Pamoja countries of Uganda and Tanzania have paid, but Kenya is yet to pay, and therefore the gains that we have made in preparations of Afcon may be in jeopardy if we are not able to raise the money by the 30th of March,” said Mwangi, while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture on Thursday, on March 19, 2026. 

Last month, the committee chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama dismissed the Ministry’s proposal to raise the hosting budget from Sh3.5 billion to Sh5 billion. 

Mwangi was part of the ‘Pamoja’ delegation that received the flag following the final between hosts Morocco and Senegal in Rabat in January

He defended the proposed increase, citing observations from the benchmarking visit, having experienced the tournament first-hand. 

“We established that for Kenya to match the standards set during the competition in Morocco, we must enhance the budget,” he said in February. 

Considering the CAF deadlines, time might be running out for Kenya if the hosting fee is not paid in 10 days.

“We appreciate the national treasury because in the financial year 2026/27, in the budget policy statement, there was an allocation of around Sh5 billion, Sh3.5 billion being hosting fees. But following recent communication from CAF, we have been given up to the 30th of March to clear the payment of hosting fees,” PS Mwangi echoed. 

Beyond hosting fee concerns, infrastructure readiness remains a critical issue. Mwangi warned that Nyayo and Kasarani Stadia, which successfully co-hosted the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) in 2025, may not be ready within the next six months and revealed that renovation works had been affected by unpaid debts. 

“Of Kasarani Stadium, we owe the contractor in excess of Sh3.7 billion. And the contractor has reduced his workforce. With that, we feel that we may not be ready within six months, the deadline that was given by Caf to have the competition and training venues ready. Equally, at Nyayo, we have not paid in excess of Sh2.6 billion to the contractor, let alone additional works of putting canopy. The contractor has already vacated the site,” Mwangi said.

This will not be the first time Kenyans experience the loss of hosting rights of a major tournament, and the negative butterfly effect that follows.

In September 2017, Caf stripped Kenya of rights to host Chan 2018.