By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and his Kakamega counterpart Ferdinand Barasa have called on the national government to consider Kisumu and Kakamega Counties to host some of the Africa Cup of Nations matches which Kenya is to co-host with Uganda and Tanzania in 2027.
In a joint press release issued on Sunday evening, the duo lamented that it’s tragic likely Western Kenya where football fans exist in platitude is likely to miss the matches at the expense of Uasin Gishu or Eldoret.
“The success of the matches will be on the turn up at the stadiums where the matches will be held,” Nyong’o said.
They further said that the decision by the national government may be denying the Western region the opportunity to host the games is likely because they are not shareholders in the Kenya Kwanza government.
The two Governors also said that Eldoret has athletes and athletic fans in millions but not soccer fans noting that Afcon matches will be played in empty stadiums with very little impact.
They lamented that it’s unfortunate that the FKF President was representing Kenya during bidding when he teamed up with his colleagues from the East African community and on coming back home he seems to have shifted the goalposts which they said is unfortunate.
“It should be noted that our neighbors who are co-hosting the tournament with us under the PAMOJA Proposal have each chosen three venues namely: Uganda has Kampala, Hoima, and Lira while Tanzania has Dar e Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha, why can’t we do the same here in Kenya?”Nyong’o wondered.
Nyong’o concluded: “There is time to reconsider the decision. The people of Western are waiting.”
CAPTION; Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba with FKF President Nick Mwendwa (L).
