Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba has assured that the joint Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals is on track.

The East African nations wish to host the continental bonanza, and there have been questions about whether they are ready for the challenge.

Bid on track

“The historic East Africa Pamoja bid, the official branding of the joint bid, is perfectly on track. This joint bid is inspired by our vision of deploying the power of sports for regional integration and the shared prosperity of all the peoples of East Africa,” Namwamba told a local media outlet.

Kenya attempted to host the AFCON finals in 1996, but it was denied the chance because the country was said not to be ready. The CS has, however, affirmed that they will work hard to ensure they are not denied that opportunity for lack of preparedness.

“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it! This is a refrain by Winston Churchill, paraphrasing philosopher George Santayana, in a 1948 speech to the House of Commons.

“Trust me, we are good students of history, and we have learned well from past Afcon foibles. We are not dropping this ball,” he continued.

The East African nations are faced with the challenge of a lack of adequate facilities and stadiums that might not meet the CAF standards, but Namwamba is positive that this will be addressed.

“Our stadia are certainly not in the best of shapes, the result of long-term neglect coupled with incoherent and haphazard attempts at development that have bequeathed the country more white elephants than international stadia.

“As we speak, Kenya does not have a single stadium that ticks the essential Fifa and CAF (Confederation of African Football) boxes. However, we have developed a coherent master plan for deliberate and intentional sports and arts infrastructure development. Our Afcon 2027 bid will benefit big time from this strategic and visionary planning,” the former Budalangi Member of Parliament added.

Sports Masterplan

Namwamba also spoke about the status of the Busia Stadium, which is domiciled in his home county.

“Busia Stadium is a county responsibility. And like many stadiums across Kenya, the deplorable state of this facility is the result of years of neglect by those concerned, primarily the county government. But those are bygones. The good news is that Busia is included in our revolutionary Sports and Arts Infrastructure Masterplan, and transformation is coming.

“Busia is a fountain of talent, the county that has given Kenya a Uefa Champions League winner in McDonald Mariga, the only Kenyan player to grace the English Premier League in Victor Wanyama, and the only Kenyan, indeed African, winner of an Olympics boxing gold medal in Robert Wangila Napunyi. The list is long. Busia County certainly deserves a fitting sports arena to honor this great sporting pedigree,” he explained.

Former Harambee Stars captain Wanyama has set up an academy in Busia, and Namwamba expressed his willingness to work with the former Celtic midfielder on talent development.

“I am super proud of Victor and his family, whose patriarch, Noah Wanyama, is himself a Kenyan football legend in his own right. I am in touch with Victor and his family, and we fully support the academy, with which we want to synergise the development of talent in Busia County, western Kenya, and indeed the whole country,” Namwamba concluded.

The facility, which occupies 21 acres of land, is expected to have a football stadium, an administration block for teachers and trainers, classes, and other offices. It will offer extracurricular activities such as play stations apart from its core objective of football development.