News Focus
- The Ministry of Sports wants Ksh 32.24 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, up from Ksh 25.49 billion.
- Ksh 3.9 billion is specifically allocated for AFCON 2027 hosting duties and infrastructure.
- The funding plan relies heavily on betting taxes and lottery revenues through the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund.
- Key projects include the Talanta Sports City Stadium and constituency sports academies.
- Anti-doping and sports agencies warn that current funding levels risk compliance failures and operational gaps.
Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi appeared before the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee on Tuesday. He requested a major budget increase to secure Kenya’s hosting of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The ministry has proposed a spending ceiling of Ksh 32.24 billion for the 2026/27 cycle. This marks a sharp rise from the Ksh 25.49 billion limit outlined in the 2026 Budget Policy Statement.
Officials plan to direct Ksh 3.9 billion specifically towards AFCON 2027 commitments. The bulk of the budget, totaling Ksh 28.8 billion in development expenditure, will fund critical infrastructure projects. The flagship initiative is the construction of the Talanta Sports City Stadium, which will serve as the main venue for the tournament.
The funding model shifts towards self-generated revenue. Betting taxes and lottery proceeds through the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund will form a central pillar of the financing strategy.
Mwangi defended the figures as essential for the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. He stated that sports infrastructure would drive economic growth through tourism and youth development.
However, the submission exposes funding strains across the sector. The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya warned that insufficient resources could trigger international compliance breaches. Similarly, the Kenya Academy of Sports and Sports Kenya reported budget shortfalls affecting talent programmes and facility maintenance.