Where to watch AFCON free in Kenya, legally? On free-to-air TV through a digital aerial, and at public fan zones and screenings. You pay nothing beyond the TV and aerial, and it uses no data.
Updated 30 October 2026.
The free-to-air channel for AFCON 2027 has not been confirmed yet. The tournament runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and no Kenyan free-to-air deal has been announced. We’ll update this page when a Kenyan broadcaster is announced. For dates, venues and pay-TV options, see the AFCON 2027 fan guide.
Which free channels show AFCON (updated)
- Last tournament: for AFCON 2023 (played in early 2024), KBC held the free-to-air rights in Kenya and showed matches on its TV channels, while pay-TV carried them on DStv and GOtv.
- AFCON 2027: officials in the host countries have said they expect the public broadcasters (KBC in Kenya) to carry matches. That’s an expectation, not a signed deal, so wait for the official announcement.
- Streaming: if the free broadcaster streams matches, it will be on its own website or app. “Free AFCON stream” links on social media are pirate sites, full of pop-ups and malware.
What you need: DVB-T2 tuner and antenna
Kenya’s digital terrestrial TV uses the DVB-T2 standard.
- TV: most flat-screen TVs sold in Kenya have a built-in DVB-T2 tuner. Check the box or settings menu. An older TV with only DVB-T (no “2”) needs a free-to-air set-top box.
- Aerial: a UHF aerial. An indoor aerial works near town; an outdoor roof aerial gives a far steadier picture in outlying estates or behind tall buildings.
- Direction: point it the same way your neighbours’ aerials face; they’ve already found the transmitter.
- Cable: use good coaxial cable, keep it short and avoid cheap splitters, which weaken the signal.
How free-to-air works, and which channels you get, is covered in free-to-air TV in Kenya.
Tune and test before kick-off
- Run a full auto scan on the TV or decoder. Steps for each brand: how to scan for channels.
- Check signal quality in the channel info screen. Turn the aerial a little at a time and rescan until quality is high and steady.
- Rescan once the broadcaster is confirmed, in case matches go out on a new or extra channel.
- Test in the evening and in rain, when weak signals and loose connectors show up.
- Plan for power cuts: a surge protector protects the TV when KPLC power returns.
Public fan zones
With matches played at home, expect plenty of free public screenings in town centres, stadium grounds and malls, plus bars and restaurants showing every game. Official fan zone locations have not been announced. Watch your county government’s and the organising committee’s channels closer to June 2027.
At crowded screenings, go with friends, keep your phone in a front pocket and avoid flashing M-Pesa or cash.
Quick answers
Yes, legally, on free-to-air TV if a Kenyan free channel holds the rights, as KBC did for the last tournament, and at public fan zones.
Not confirmed yet for AFCON 2027. KBC showed AFCON 2023 free-to-air in Kenya; this page will be updated when the rights holder is announced.
No. Free-to-air TV comes through an aerial and a DVB-T2 tuner, so it uses no data.
