Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has chaired a high-level review of Kenya's preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with security listed among ten sectors under scrutiny as the country races against the clock.

The meeting, held with Principal Secretaries on Tuesday, October 6, assessed progress in stadium readiness, security, health services, immigration, transport, accommodation, power, ICT, broadcasting and hospitality, according to The Star.

Kenya will stage the tournament jointly with Uganda and Tanzania. Matches are scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

Clear responsibilities and timelines

Koskei said inspections and technical engagements with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) were continuing and were helping the government identify gaps and set priorities. He added that teams across government had been given defined responsibilities and timelines, and urged all stakeholders to maintain momentum now that the countdown had begun.

He also pointed to the wider benefits of hosting, saying the tournament could boost tourism and trade, open opportunities for small businesses, creatives and the hospitality industry, and leave the country with improved sporting facilities.

Reports of the meeting did not set out specific new instructions for the security agencies. Security was one of the ten areas reviewed.

Security planning so far

Security preparations have been under way for months. In May, a two-day CAF and Local Organising Committee security workshop at Kasarani, supported by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, brought together the Ministry of Sports, the Football Kenya Federation, CAF, the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

Officials at that workshop listed the main concerns as:

  • Crowd control and traffic management
  • Border security, and airport and port operations
  • Matchday coordination and protection of training venues
  • Safety of VIPs and visiting dignitaries

Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi said at the time that security would be "a central pillar" of a CAF-compliant tournament, and that the government would act on any recommendations, including rebuilding perimeter walls or carrying out more training.

Stadiums remain the biggest test

Infrastructure is still seen as the main concern. In May, Mwangi said work on Talanta Stadium, now called the Raila Odinga International Stadium, was more than 88 per cent complete, while the pitch at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, was being re-laid.

Work is also going on at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, which will host this year's national Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20 before further work ahead of the tournament.

What happens next

Government teams are expected to keep working with CAF inspectors to close the remaining gaps. The three host nations are also coordinating security planning ahead of the June 2027 kick-off.

Photo: Endesia94 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0