Kenya’s AFCON 2027 preparations gather pace as KAS grounds join race for CAF-ready facilities

Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have entered a crucial phase ahead of December 31, 2026 deadline, with the government reporting progress at the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) Grounds A and B as the country races to have its venues ready for the continental tournament.

Taking to his socials on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi said the two KAS grounds are among the designated training facilities for the Pamoja AFCON 2027 and that work is steadily transforming them into venues capable of meeting Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements.

“The Kenya Academy of Sports Grounds A and B are among the 12 designated training facilities earmarked for the Pamoja AFCON 2027, and their transformation into world-class training venues is steadily taking shape,” Mwangi said.

He said the playing surface at Ground A had developed significantly, with the grass now approaching the trimming and maintenance stage.

According to the PS, floodlight masts have also been erected while drainage and irrigation systems have been installed. Final works on the changing rooms are meanwhile progressing towards completion.

“Significant progress has been made in upgrading the two facilities to meet the stringent standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), reaffirming our commitment to delivering infrastructure capable of supporting a continental tournament of this magnitude,” Mwangi said.

The KAS facilities are part of a wider network of training grounds being prepared for the tournament. Kenya’s designated training venues include KAS Grounds A and B, Nyayo National Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco Stadium, Kasarani Annexes A and B, Kenya Utalii College Sports Ground, Talanta Sports City Annexes 1, 2 and 3 and Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu. CAF has required training facilities to meet minimum technical, safety and operational standards, with January 2027 set as the deadline for venues to be operational.

At the centre of Kenya’s preparations is the 60,000-capacity Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City, which is expected to be the country’s flagship AFCON venue.

The stadium was reported to be about 94 per cent complete following a Senate inspection in September, although officials identified outstanding technical, accessibility and operational issues that still needed attention.

The venue is now scheduled for its official inauguration on January 5, 2027, when German giants Bayern Munich will face Dutch side Ajax in a high-profile friendly. CAF has confirmed the match as part of the stadium’s opening programme.

The government has also been working on supporting infrastructure around Talanta, including power, access and transport facilities. The stadium is expected to play a central role in Kenya’s hosting plans, with the PS previously telling Parliament that the country could potentially stage the AFCON opening and closing ceremonies at the new facility.

While Talanta has emerged as the most advanced of Kenya’s major stadium projects, Kasarani has faced a more demanding race against time.

The 48,000-capacity Moi International Sports Centre is one of Kenya’s principal match venues for AFCON 2027. Recent inspections by the Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee raised concerns over construction delays, accessibility for persons with disabilities and emergency preparedness.

Project officials have set December 31 as the handover deadline, with earlier delays attributed partly to payment challenges. AFCON Local Organising Committee chairman Nicholas Musonye has nevertheless maintained that Kasarani will be ready for handover by the end of December.

The stadium has also been at the centre of discussions over CAF requirements, including the number of skyboxes and other hospitality-related facilities. The government has argued that some CAF specifications could interfere with existing infrastructure at the venue.

Nyayo National Stadium is expected to play a different role, primarily serving as a training facility rather than one of Kenya’s principal match venues.

The facility has undergone several improvements, including drainage works, floodlight installation and CCTV upgrades. However, a Senate inspection in October exposed a KSh984 million funding gap, with the contractor having suspended works while awaiting further payments.

Among the outstanding works identified were connecting the floodlights to the national grid, installing LED screens and a scoreboard, completing perimeter works, turnstiles and ticketing systems, and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities.

The funding issue has therefore remained one of the potential pressure points in Kenya’s preparations, even as officials continue to insist that the country’s overall AFCON programme remains on course.

As December 31, 2026 deadline approaches, Kenya’s infrastructure programme is being measured against increasingly tight CAF timelines. The continental body has required match venues and training facilities across the three co-host countries to be operational by January 2027.

The urgency comes after earlier CAF assessments highlighted gaps across the proposed venues. Kenya’s current programme therefore involves not only completing stadium construction and renovations but also ensuring that floodlighting, drainage, irrigation, security, accessibility, transport, power and other operational systems meet tournament requirements.

For Mwangi, however, the objective extends beyond simply passing CAF inspections.

“Beyond meeting CAF’s technical requirements, our ambition is to provide Africa’s finest football teams with exceptional training environments that reflect Kenya’s readiness, capacity and commitment to delivering a world-class Pamoja AFCON 2027,” he said.

With the tournament scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, Kenya now has less than seven months to turn the remaining construction and rehabilitation work into fully operational facilities.

The progress at the KAS grounds provides another indicator of that race, but the outstanding work at Kasarani and Nyayo shows that Kenya’s AFCON preparations still have significant milestones to clear before the tournament arrives.

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