Three Kenyan referees have been selected to officiate at this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament, which will be held in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The referees were chosen after attending a pre-tournament training and evaluation course in Cairo from December 4 to 9, 2024.
The selected referees are:
- Dickens Mimisa – center referee
- Peter Waweru Kamaku – center referee/VAR
- Samuel Kuria – assistant referee
For Mimisa, this appointment marks a significant achievement in his career. Last season, he was named the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) Referee of the Year.
In August, he was also appointed center referee for a Confederations Cup match between Nsingizini Hotspurs FC (Eswatini) and Stellenbosch FC (South Africa). Mimisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Kuria, a rising assistant referee, was accredited by FIFA in 2022 and has made a strong impression on the international stage. Kamaku, a Mathematics lecturer at JKUAT, is one of the most experienced Kenyan referees, having officiated as a VAR referee during the 2021 CHAN tournament in Algeria.
The three Kenyan referees were among 25 center referees and 22 assistant referees who attended the CAF-organized, five-day course aimed at equipping officials with updated knowledge on the latest rules and refereeing technologies. An additional 10 Video Assistant Referees (VAR) were also part of the training.
In addition to the Kenyan officials, both Tanzania and Uganda, the co-hosts of the tournament, have one referee each.
Meanwhile, while Kenya continues to make progress in preparations for the tournament, the country has yet to complete its stadiums.
Uganda, on the other hand, has issued a public call for volunteers to apply as stewards for the one-month tournament. The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has emphasized the importance of stewards and has encouraged female applicants to apply.
