The government has sought to allay fears that Kenya could lose its hosting rights for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) due to infrastructural challenges.
In a statement on Monday, May 26, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya affirmed that Kenya remains on track to host the tournament, following a recent inspection by officials from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Speaking during the official handover of the refurbished Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, Mvurya clarified that the presence of CAF assessors in the country was part of standard preparations ahead of the continental event.
“We held a meeting with CAF on Friday. These periodic assessments will continue until the final inspection in July. During our discussion, we reaffirmed Kenya’s full readiness to host CHAN,” the CS said.
His comments came shortly after reports indicated that CAF assessors had raised concerns about the condition of the playing surfaces at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and designated training facilities.
However, Mvurya reassured the public that preparations were proceeding as planned and dismissed the concerns as misinformation.
“We have invested significantly in stadium upgrades, particularly at Kasarani and Nyayo. We have also paid the required KES 1.6 billion hosting fee. The ongoing CAF assessments are normal and are meant to ensure compliance with hosting standards,” he added.
Mvurya reiterated Kenya’s commitment to delivering a successful and high-quality tournament, noting that the government is working in collaboration with regional partners Tanzania and Uganda.
The 2024 CHAN edition is scheduled to take place from August 30 and will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—the first time the tournament will be staged across three countries.
Originally slated for February 2025, the event was pushed forward to August to give organizers more time to finalise preparations and to accommodate an additional qualification round.
Uganda’s State Minister for Sports, Peter Ogwang, and Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamisi Mwinjuma, have also confirmed their countries’ readiness for the competition.
The three governments are also exploring the rollout of a “PAMOJA Visa” to facilitate cross-border travel during the tournament.
