Kenya scrambles to save AFCON 2027 bid amid LOC purge

NAIROBI: THE Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, has said plans are underway to overhaul the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Local Organising Committee (LOC).

The CS told the reporter on Tuesday, during the official announcement and launch of the FIFA Women’s Series that will be hosted by Kenya next month. He said the Kenyan government was embarking on a 7-10-day process to appoint a fresh LOC, which is expected to oversee the country’s hosting of the 2027 AFCON next year.

As per Mvurya, who also allayed fears that Kenya would fail to meet CAF’s deadline of paying Ksh3.9 billion (30 US million dollars) hosting fee, said the move to reconstitute the committee was due to “higher responsibilities” that will come with Kenya co-hosting the 2027 AFCON alongside PAMOJA neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

“We are in the process of constituting the LOC for AFCON 2027,” Mvurya said. “Even though we know we had a good team during the 2024 CHAN, we require a few changes for AFCON 2027.”

The 56-year-old also seemed to poke holes on the outgoing LOC, which was set up in December 2024 by then Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

“You know, in some of these leadership responsibilities, there are people who find opportunities to drag actions and decisions,” Mvurya said.

“We want those who serve in the LOC to be people who will work for Kenya and demonstrate the spirit, diversity, unity and passion of Kenya.”

Chaired by former CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, the current LOC encountered several challenges in the leadup and during last year’s CHAN.

Its first blow came when CAF announced the postponement of the competition due to Kenya’s infrastructural gaps, before the LOC and FKF were tasked when CAF’s Disciplinary Board imposed fines on the country for major safety and security breaches that occurred during Kenya’s match against Morocco at Kasarani Stadium on 10 August.

Announcing the way forward, Mvurya said the government was embarking on a plan to appoint members from the private sector, a move that comes barely 10 days after Kenya’s President William Ruto announced a similar plan to involve the public sector in funding the WRC Safari Rally from 2027.

“We want the private sector to take more responsibilities in sports because we are looking at the commercialisation of sports in our country,” Mvurya said.

“This year, the organisation of the WRC Safari Rally was more successful because we gave roles to the private sector. Equally, in football and other disciplines, we want the private sector to be involved. We will be reaching out to the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that we have a formidable team that will profile our country.”

Alongside Musonye in the LOC Secretariat are: CEO Mike Rabar, FKF President Hussein Mohammed, Patrick Korir, and members, notably including: former Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, renowned sports journalist Elias Makori, and former Harambee Starlets player Terry Ouko.

On Kenya’s preparedness for AFCON, Mvurya doubled down on his PS’s recent comments, saying: “I want to assure all Kenyans and our international stakeholders, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF), that we are meeting both our financial obligations and infrastructural compliances.

“We are on course with our sports infrastructure. This is why we invited CAF to come and check on our progress, because we know we are doing excellently.