Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has officially unveiled the standing committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, tasking members with coordinating Kenya’s preparations for the continental football tournament.
Mvurya said the committee would oversee key aspects of the country’s readiness as Kenya prepares to co-host the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
“I have officially unveiled the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 LOC Standing Committee, entrusting its members with the national responsibility of coordinating and overseeing Kenya’s preparations towards delivering a world-class, memorable and successful continental football tournament,” he said.
The CS said the members had been selected based on their experience, professional expertise and leadership, which he described as critical to delivering a successful tournament.
“Carefully selected for their wealth of experience, professional expertise and proven leadership, the committee brings together distinguished individuals whose collective capabilities will be instrumental in delivering a championship befitting Kenya’s ambitions as a leading sporting destination,” Mvurya said.
He urged the members to approach their responsibilities with commitment, noting that the tournament would be an important test of Kenya’s ability to organise major international sporting events.
This, even as the clock ticks towards kick-off of the highly-anticipated regional competition.
“With less than eight months to kick-off, I challenged the committee to move decisively from planning to execution, prioritising operational readiness, effective coordination, strategic partnerships, financial accountability and strict adherence to delivery timelines,” he said.
Mvurya said the committee had a national responsibility to ensure the country delivers a competition that meets the expectations of football fans, participating teams and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“I reaffirmed their mandate and reminded them that they carry the hopes and aspirations of over 55 million Kenyans to deliver a tournament that brings pride and joy to the country,” he said.
The government is positioning AFCON 2027 as an opportunity to strengthen sports development while expanding tourism, attracting investment and creating economic opportunities.
Kenya will co-host the tournament with its East African neighbours under the PAMOJA partnership, marking a major milestone for regional cooperation in sports.
The competition is expected to draw thousands of supporters, officials and international visitors, presenting opportunities for hotels, airlines, transport operators, tour companies and other businesses.
The preparations also place pressure on the three host countries to ensure stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, transport and security arrangements meet CAF requirements.
Kenya has been undertaking infrastructure improvements as part of its preparations, including the development of Talanta Sports City, which is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to host international football matches.
Mvurya said the tournament should leave a lasting legacy beyond the matches by supporting investment in sporting infrastructure and creating opportunities for young people.
He said the government expected the event to contribute to tourism growth and economic activity while strengthening Kenya’s reputation as a destination for major sporting competitions.
“Delivering AFCON 2027 successfully will secure a lasting legacy in sports development, tourism, investment and economic opportunities,” he said.
Mvurya added that the forthcoming official opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium,Talanta Sports City, will provide a critical dress rehearsal to test our operational systems, security arrangements, logistics, crowd management and overall fan experience ahead of AFCON 2027.
The opening will feature a high-profile encounter between German giants FC Bayern München and Dutch powerhouse AFC Ajax.
