The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Kenyan football fans will be able to follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup on free-to-air television after the government approved funding to support its broadcast through the national broadcaster, KBC.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced that financial hurdles that had initially threatened KBC’s plans to televise the tournament have now been addressed.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
Mbadi revealed that he had engaged KBC’s Managing Director and confirmed that the government had released the necessary support to ensure the competition is aired.
“The World Cup is just around the corner, and Kenyans are eagerly anticipating the football spectacle. We experienced some difficulties in securing funding for KBC, but those issues have now been resolved,” he said.
The announcement is expected to reassure football enthusiasts who had raised concerns about whether they would have access to the tournament.
According to Mbadi, the government has already approved funds for the broadcast despite the current economic and budgetary pressures facing the country.
He noted that discussions with KBC management were ongoing and expressed confidence that viewers across the country would be able to watch the matches.
“We may have experienced delays because of the financial challenges we are dealing with, but arrangements have now been made to support the airing of the World Cup,” he added.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19. The tournament will make history as the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
Expected to attract a massive global audience, the competition will bring together some of the world’s biggest football stars and national teams in what is considered one of the most prestigious events in international sport.
Mbadi also admitted he has not yet settled on a team to support during the tournament.
The government’s commitment to fund the broadcasts highlights efforts to ensure major sporting events remain accessible to Kenyans through public television, particularly for viewers who do not subscribe to pay-TV services.
KBC has traditionally worked with government agencies and broadcasting rights holders to make major international sporting events available to audiences across the country.
