By David Ndolo
Confederation of African Football and Kenyan authorities have intensified preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2027 following the opening of a high-level two-day CAF Local Organising Committee (LOC) Security Workshop at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on Wednesday morning, the Principal Secretary for Sports expressed confidence in Kenya’s readiness to host a successful and CAF-compliant tournament, emphasizing that security remains a critical pillar in delivering the continental football showpiece.
“This workshop is very important in delivering a CAF-compliant football event. For an event of PAMOJA AFCON 2027 magnitude, security is a central pillar towards the successful delivery of this great event,” the PS said.
The workshop, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, brought together top security and football stakeholders including Football Kenya Federation and officials from the Ministry of Sports Kenya.
Representing CAF at the forum was Christian Emeruwa.
Discussions at the workshop are expected to focus on protocols and procedures necessary to guarantee a safe and secure environment during the tournament, which is now just 13 months away.
Key agenda items include reviewing lessons learned during African Nations Championship 2025, identifying operational gaps, and mapping out match and training venues.
Other major areas under discussion include crowd control, traffic management, cross-border movement coordination, airport and port security, VIP protection, and safety measures at match and training facilities.
Hussein Mohammed said Kenya must continue strengthening its preparations to fully comply with CAF’s strict hosting standards.
“We must address all gaps to ensure we stage a unique tournament that provides a memorable fan experience for Kenyan football supporters,” he said.
The workshop has drawn participation from multiple security agencies including the Kenya Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Defence Forces, National Counter Terrorism Centre, and the National Disaster Operations Centre.
The PS also noted that infrastructure development for the tournament was progressing steadily, with accelerated construction and upgrading of both match and training venues across the country.
He was accompanied by Evans Achoki, FKF President Hussein Mohammed, and Nicholas Musonye.
