If elected, Raila Odinga has promised to make sure Kenya hosts the FIFA World Cup.
The 78-year-old football enthusiast Odinga is one of the front-runners to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 2022 elections, according to analysts. He is running for president on the alliance of Azimio la Umoja.
At the Mumias Sports Complex, Odinga made the remarks as the Elijah Lidonde Memorial club football competition got underway.”
“We will build good facilities that will enable our players be comfortable when playing football,” said Odinga
“That includes this complex (Mumias). The one in Kakamega (Bukhungu stadium) we will upgrade because we have plans to host the Africa Cup of Nations. Then later on, we will look at hosting the World Cup.”
Odinga questioned why Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, all of which had weaker economies, were able to host the Africa Cup of Nations but not Kenya.
In both 1996 and 2018, Kenya was given the opportunity to host the Africa Cup of Nations and the Africa Nations Championship, but was unable to do so due to a lack of the necessary infrastructure.
“We’ll also see to it that Mombasa has a contemporary stadium. In order to provide our youngsters with adequate training facilities, including gymnasiums, we will develop more in Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Kericho.
The Fifa World Cup, which features 32 football-playing nations that qualified through a play-off, is the most watched sporting event. The competition’s most well-liked teams include Brazil, Argentina.
Only South Africa, an African country, was the 2010 FIFA World Cup host.
Every four years, a country or countries are selected through competitive bidding to host the competition, with consideration given to factors like as infrastructure, logistics, hotels, and transportation.
Kenya’s infrastructure has to be upgraded by about Sh200 billion for the World Cup.
Odinga, a former professional footballer, is a devoted supporter of both Arsenal and the Harambee Stars.
Fifa has now banned Kenya from participating in international football due to allegations of political meddling.
