The Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture has sounded the alarm over the failure by the Treasury to allocate billions of shillings for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosting rights fees in the 2025/2026 budget estimates.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsKenya, along with Tanzania and Uganda, won the rights to stage the biannual tournament in September 2023 under the East Africa Pamoja bid.Accordingly, each of the three nations is required to pay the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ksh3.9 billion (USD30 million) as hosting rights fees before April 2026.##NAJAVA_MECA_8945544##Further, the Committee recommended an increase in funding allocations for key sporting establishments in the country: the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), and the Sports Registrar.However, the Committee, chaired by Webuye West MP and sports enthusiast Dan Wanyama, has raised concerns over the failure by the Treasury to allocate the funds in its estimates for the new financial year starting on 1 July.President Ruto’s son George declares loyalty to AFC LeopardsAccording to the Daily Nation, the Treasury has set the 2025/2026 overall budget at Ksh3.36 trillion, with Ksh18.59 billion allocated to the State Department for Sports.“That Kenya is scheduled to host AFCON 2027 alongside Tanzania and Uganda. However, there is no provision in the proposed annual estimates for payment of hosting rights amounting to Ksh3.9 billion (USD 30 million), which should be paid by April 2026,” reported the publication.##NAJAVA_MECA_8947836##The MPs directed their concerns and recommendations for additional funding for the department to the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC).However, in what could turn out to be a huge blow to the sporting fraternity, BAC Chairman Samuel Atandi has ruled out any possibility of increased allocations to ministries.“We, as a committee, will operate under a tight situation given the huge budget deficitThe room for manoeuvre is not there. Requests for additional funding from the MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies) are a no-go zone for us,” said Atandi on Thursday.Two-time world champion Anderson Peters fired up ahead of Saturday’s Kip Keino ClassicIn its submission to the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture on Monday, the Ministry of Sports, led by Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, emphasised that the funds are critical in finalising Kenya’s role as co-host of the 2027 Afcon.“Kenya is scheduled to host AFCON 2027 alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The hosting agreements for AFCON 2027 have been drafted and require signing, along with the settlement of Ksh3.9 billion. Kenya is obligated to pay the hosting rights fee by April 2026. This amount has not been provided in the FY 2025/26 Budget Estimates,” lamented the Ministry of Sports, as quoted by the Daily Nation.##NAJAVA_MECA_8947835##In March, the government found itself racing against time to beat the Thursday, 3 April, deadline CAF had set for the submission of the CHAN hosting rights fees.Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania all paid Ksh1.6 billion to host the tournament in August.
