AFCON 2027: Corruption Scandal Hits Sports Ministry, Top Officials Arrested

AFCON 2027: Corruption Scandal Hits Sports Ministry, Top Officials Arrested

Sampson Adedeji

Preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have been overshadowed by a major corruption scandal rocking Kenya’s Ministry of Sports, with several top officials reportedly arrested in connection with a large-scale embezzlement scheme, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched what has been described as one of the biggest operations in the ministry’s history, leading to multiple arrests and raids across Nairobi and other regions.

The investigation uncovered a vast network of corruption involving ministry officials, contractors, and external companies particularly those linked to the renovation of football stadiums ahead of the CHAN and AFCON 2027 tournaments.

According to Sports News Africa, the fraudulent scheme centers on the manipulation of public contracts and collusion with businesspeople, especially in the travel sector.

The EACC estimates that over 3.8 billion Kenyan shillings roughly €25 million was siphoned between 2020/2021 and 2025/2026.

During the raids, authorities also seized 5.4 million shillings in cash, 13 vehicles, 28 real estate properties, and 37 bank accounts allegedly connected to the suspects.

 “The individuals involved abused their positions of trust and authority to divert public funds through collusion and procurement fraud,” the EACC stated.

Among those detained are senior deputy commissioner for sports Caroline Muthoni Kariuki and ministry accountant David Muasyu Musau.

Both are accused of participating in the illicit network tied to infrastructure projects for CHAN and AFCON 2027, a development that now casts a shadow over Kenya’s co-hosting plans for the continental showpiece.