Ruto speaks after Kenya lands 2027 AFCON hosting rights

By Peter Ochieng

Like most soccer fans in the country, president William Ruto is delighted to see Kenya being handed the rights to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Confederations of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday handed Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda the 2027 AFCON hosting rights, under the three East Africa nations joint Pamoja bid.

Ruto pledged to mobilise resources, towards delivering a mouth watering AFCON tournament.

"I have been informed that Kenya together with Uganda and Tanzania has managed to be the host of AFCON 2027. 

I want to thank the sports ministry that all the plans we had of changing the ministry have started taking shape."

"Many people did not believe that we had a chance of hosting the AFCON 2027 because of the state of our football and the state of our sports in general but I am very proud today that Kenya together with our partners in Kenya and Uganda have won this chance," added the president.

"And it is home," reacted Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports.

His Foreign and Diaspora Affairs counterpart Alfred Mutua said working together brings great achievement.

"I have received with joy news that CAF @CAF_Online has awarded Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania the rights to host the 2027 Africa cup of Nations football bonanza. This is a big honour to our region and testament to the fact that when we work together, we can achieve greater things."

"Sports diplomacy holds a special place in our global engagements. @ForeignOfficeKE looks forward to playing its role fully to make this historic event a memorable one," added Mutua.

It will be the first time for the tournament, played after every two years to be hosted in East Africa.

Kenya won the rights to host the 1996 tournament but it never came to be, as the country was stripped off the rights due to lack of sufficient infrastructure.