Kenya has stepped up preparations to strengthen safety and security measures ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with government officials and football stakeholders affirming that security remains a top priority in delivering a successful continental tournament.
Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi alongside Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed officially opened the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Safety and Security Workshop at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi.
The two-day workshop, facilitated by Confederation of African Football (CAF) Head of Safety and Security Christian Emeruwa, brought together senior security officials and key stakeholders involved in the organization of the continental football showpiece.
Among those in attendance were LOC Chairman Nicholas Musonye, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Kenya Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Anti-Terrorism Centre and the National Disaster Operations Centre.
The stakeholders are expected to form the core Safety and Security Committee that will be integrated into the AFCON 2027 LOC structure.
Speaking during the opening session, PS Elijah Mwangi said the workshop was critical in ensuring Kenya complies with CAF security requirements for hosting a world-class tournament.
“This workshop is very important in delivering a CAF-compliant football event. For an event of AFCON 2027’s magnitude, security is a central pillar towards the successful delivery of this great tournament,” said Mwangi.
He noted that deliberations during the workshop would focus on operational procedures and protocols required to guarantee a safe and secure environment for players, officials, fans and visiting delegations.
Key areas under discussion include crowd management, traffic marshaling, cross-border movement coordination, airport and port security, match and training venue protection, emergency response systems and VIP security arrangements.
The workshop is also reviewing lessons learned from the hosting of the 2025 African Nations Championship, including successes recorded and challenges identified during preparations.
FKF President Hussein Mohammed emphasized the need for enhanced capacity building and coordination among agencies involved in the preparations.
“We must address all gaps to ensure we stage a unique tournament that provides an exceptional fan experience for football supporters across the continent,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government has reaffirmed that infrastructure development for AFCON 2027 is progressing steadily, with construction and upgrading of match venues and training facilities being accelerated to meet CAF standards.
Kenya is set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania under the Pamoja bid.
by Anita Omwenga
