Kisumu will host AFCON matches -Ruto

By Peter Ochieng 

President William Ruto on Monday assured Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o that the Lakeside county will host some matches, during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.

Last month, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania's joint Pamoja bid won the 2027 AFCON hosting rights, defeating Egypt, Senegal and Botswana.

The Ministry of Sports fronted Nyayo national stadium and Moi Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi and Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret as the hosting venues.

Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o and his Kakamega counterpart Fernandes Barasa in a joint statement a week ago, demanded a share of the AFCON matches.

Speaking during his fourth day of Nyanza visit, president Ruto said that Kisumu will, without a doubt, host some of the matches.

"We should agree on how we are going to host all the tournaments that we have starting from AFCON to CECAFA and all the others and to spread all the facilities across Kenya," said the president.

"I want to confirm to you professor that we have taken into account the place of Kisumu in hosting at least some of the tournaments that we have spread across the country," he added.

In their statement, Nyong'o and Barasa said it was tragic that Eldoret had been considered for AFCON hosting rights, at the expense of Kakamega and Kisumu.

"The UDA government has announced that the AFCON 2027 football matches shall be held in Nairobi and Eldoret. This, in our view, is a tragic decision. Western Kenya should have been included with either matches being held in Kisumu or Kakamega. The Western region of Kenya is where football fans exist in plenitude. Not in Uashin Gishu, or Eldoret for that matter," said the two.

"Eldoret has athletes and athletic fans in millions. But not soccer. And that is the naked truth. This means the Afcon matches will be played in empty stadia with very little impact. It should be noted that our neighbors who are cohosting the tournament with us, under the Pamoja proposal, have each chosen three venues namely: Uganda-Kampala, Lira and Hoima; Tanzania-Dar e Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha. Why can’t we do the same in Kenya?"

However, in response, Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Bii said they acknowledge Kisumu and Kakamega's prowess in football, but Eldoret is no push over.

"We acknowledge the rich sporting heritage of Kakamega and Kisumu, and their contribution to Kenyan football, but it is important to remember that football is a sport that attracts fans across the country. It enhances unity in diversity," he said.