Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has welcomed the continued support of Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania intensify preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mvurya spoke after accompanying Motsepe during his inspection of the Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City and the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, as CAF assessed Kenya’s progress ahead of the continental tournament on Friday, September 18, 2026.
The CAF president’s visit forms part of ongoing oversight of the three host nations, with the governing body assessing infrastructure and preparations against its operational and competition requirements.
Mvurya said Kenya appreciates the confidence Motsepe has continued to show in the three East African hosts, describing his support as important to the preparations for the tournament.
“We most sincerely welcome the steadfast support and confidence that CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe continues to place in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania,” Mvurya said.
He added that Motsepe’s belief in the three countries’ ability to stage the competition has provided encouragement as preparations enter a critical phase.
Mvurya also pointed to CAF’s regular engagement with the host nations, saying technical inspections, consultations and feedback have helped Kenya identify areas requiring attention while improving its facilities.
“CAF’s sustained engagement through regular consultations, technical inspections and constructive feedback has been instrumental in the progress made,” he said.
According to the CS, the continued interaction with CAF has allowed Kenya to refine its preparations and work towards meeting the standards required to host matches at the continent’s premier national team competition.
AFCON 2027 inspection
The inspection of Talanta and Kasarani comes as Kenya continues work on major sports infrastructure projects earmarked for the tournament. CAF has said its inspections are intended to assess progress, identify areas needing additional attention and ensure preparations remain aligned with tournament requirements.
Mvurya said the government would maintain its focus on completing the necessary work while strengthening cooperation between government agencies, CAF and other stakeholders.
“As Government, we remain firmly committed to sustaining this momentum, accelerating delivery and upholding close collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure a successful continental tournament,” he said.
Motsepe’s Kenya visit followed his inspection activities in Tanzania, where he reiterated CAF’s commitment to the three East African hosts. The 2027 AFCON is scheduled to be jointly staged by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking the first time the tournament will be hosted by three countries.
On his part, Motsepe hailed the efforts put in by the government to see a successful tournament: “I am really impressed by what President William Ruto and his government is doing towards the hosting of this tournament, the work in progress is commendable.” He said.
With the tournament scheduled for June-July 2027, the latest inspections provide another opportunity for CAF and the host governments to review progress and address outstanding requirements ahead of the competition.
