- Considering that we will have many officials and fans traveling from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam and to Kampala, the hotels will have a booming business.”
- Speaking after the announcement Sports CS Ababu Namwamba said the move was a shot in the arm for integration in the region.
Image: FILE
Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has said East Africa’s economy will be boosted through the hotel business during the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
The 'Pamoja bid' was on Wednesday approved by the Confederation of African Football and the preparation for the biannual tournament is expected to hit top gear following the revelation.
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will jointly host the month-long championship.
Speaking in an interview at a local station, Didmus said the three countries will benefit from hosting the first-ever football tournament of such magnitude.
"Afcon will most definitely boost the economy of the three hosting East African countries. Considering that we will have many officials and fans traveling from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam and to Kampala, the hotels will have a booming business,” he said.
“The responsibility is on our national teams. The Harambee Stars, Uganda cranes, and Taifa Stars to make the region proud.
"And not just participating, they should put in much effort and ensure that at least one of them, if not all of them, should advance to the quarters,” the lawmaker added.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the East Africa "Pamoja" Bid as the winner of the rights to host the premier African football bonanza after the Caf Executive Committee's meeting in Cairo, Egypt.
President William Ruto congratulated the country, Uganda and Tanzania for winning a chance to jointly host the tournament.
He said: "I have been informed that Kenya together with Uganda and Tanzania has managed to be the host of AFCON 2027. I want to thank the Sports Ministry that all the plans we had of changing the ministry have started taking shape."
Speaking after the announcement Sports CS Ababu Namwamba said the move was a shot in the arm for integration in the region.
“Hosting this tournament together for me is such a big shot in the arm for integration. But it is also an opportunity to send a message we can do things together successfully,” the sports CS said.
“For the first time ever in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, we will have Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya playing side by side in this tournament.”