PAMOJA 2027: Kenya working visa system to ease movement during AFCON
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has confirmed that plans for a single visa system to ease movement across the three East African host nations during next year’s Africa Cup of Nations are now at an advanced stage.
Kenya is working hand-in-hand with co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania to get the framework operational well ahead of kickoff, with Mvurya stressing that seamless cross-border travel is central to the region’s hosting vision.
“We are committed on cross-border mobility, the movement between the three countries. Kenya already has a free visa policy for Africa, but we also enhance as we operationalize the single visa with our colleagues in the East Africa region,” Mvurya said.
The CS revealed that the three nations are firmly aligned on delivering a tournament worthy of the continent’s biggest football showpiece.
“We had a meeting on Monday as a Pamoja oversight committee, bringing together the three ministers from Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. We went through the key motions of organizing this tournament and we all committed to host a successful Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.
A historic first for East Africa
This will mark the first time East Africa has hosted a tournament of this scale — a chance Kenya once let slip back in 1996, when hosting rights ultimately went to South Africa, who went on to lift the trophy on home soil.
For Mvurya, this is more than just a football tournament — it’s a rare shot at transformation. “For the three countries, this is the first time that we are hosting a continental tournament. West Africa, North Africa and South Africa have been ahead of us on matters of football and therefore this is a golden opportunity for us,” he said.
Building blocks taking shape
With the clock ticking down to kickoff, preparations are in full swing across the region. In Kenya, construction continues at the state-of-the-art Talanta Sports Stadium — set to hold 60,000 fans — while the 40-year-old Kasarani Stadium undergoes a major facelift.
Mvurya’s comments came as a CAF delegation, led by Head of Competitions Khaled Nassar, touched down in Kenya for their second inspection visit of the year, following an earlier trip back in March, as football’s continental body keeps close tabs on the host nations’ readiness.
With three countries, one dream, and history on the line, East Africa is determined to make its long-awaited AFCON debut one to remember.
