Kenya’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will coincide with the campaign period for the 2027 General Election.
During the tournament, Kenya will co-host the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania, with AFCON scheduled to run from June 19 to July 27, 2027.
Following the overlap of the events, Senator Okiya Omtatah requested the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Welfare to consider measures to safeguard the electoral process during AFCON 2027.
Omtatah on Campaigning Season during AFCON
Appearing before the Senate on October 8, Omtatah questioned whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) plans to engage the Government, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and stakeholders to coordinate activities during the tournament.
The senator also raised concerns about access to campaign advertising on television, radio, billboards, and digital platforms during the period.
According to Omtatah, media coverage may become inaccessible during the tournament, particularly due to competition from AFCON sponsors, multinational corporations, and State agencies.
Further, Okiya also inquired how the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and other State-owned media will provide equitable and impartial coverage of election activities while meeting their broadcasting and contractual obligations for AFCON during prime-time hours.
Additionally, the AFCON tournament is set to affect public venues, foreign interference, and the use of public resources.
What IEBC Has Already Put in Place
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s ( IEBC) Election Operations Plan sets August 10, 2027, as the date for the General Election.
According to IEBC, the official campaign period will begin on May 29, 2027, and end on August 7, 2027, 48 hours before polling day.
In addition, the Commission notes that Campaign activities are permitted between 7 am and 6 pm during the May 29 to August 7 period and elections held on August 10.
“An election of the President of the Republic of Kenya shall be held on Tuesday, 10th August, 2027,” Gazette Notice published on August 20 read.
The Commission plans to identify possible threats to the election and monitor them throughout the election period using the Electoral Risk Management Tool during the 2027 election season.
Additionally, the IEBC plans to strengthen cooperation among agencies responsible for election security, including the National Police Service and other government agencies.
In its 2025–2027 Election Operations Plan, IEBC is also set to train security officers on electoral security between February and May 2027.
The training will be followed by the establishment and operation of an election risk center around the polling period to help monitor and coordinate responses to emerging security concerns.
Also Read: Mvurya Reveals Talanta Stadium Completion Timeline Ahead of AFCON 2027
AFCON Preparations
As the country prepares to host AFCON 2027, CAF’s technical inspections have included Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, and the Talanta Sports Stadium.
CAF has also inspected training facilities such as the Ulinzi Sports Complex and Kenya Academy of Sports.
CAF’s September 2026 inspection also covered the newly constructed 60,000-capacity Talanta Stadium, training venues, hotels, airport facilities and other Nairobi infrastructure.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the first Africa Cup of Nations tournament as the competition’s return to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976.
The competition will feature 24 teams, with the three host nations automatically qualified; opening matches are scheduled for June 19, 2027, and the final for July 17, 2027.
Forty-eight nations entered the qualifiers, which are being played across three FIFA international windows, with the final qualification matches scheduled for March 2027.
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