| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Tanzania |
| Dates | November 14–28 |
| Teams | 8 (from CECAFA confederations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Kenya (2nd title) |
| Runners-up |  Tanzania |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 39 (2.44 per match) |
← 1980 1982 → | |
The 1981 CECAFA Cup was the 9th edition of the tournament. It was held in Tanzania, and was won by Kenya. The matches were played between November 14–28.
Somalia withdrew before the tournament.