Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has appointed Radio Jambo host Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee as a member of a National Steering Committee as Kenya amps up its preparations for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2025 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 tournament.
Kenya is set to co-host the two events with Tanzania and Uganda.
Murkomen has tapped into the media personality who served as the coach of Harambee Stars for two spells to be part of the Pamoja CHAN 2024 and Pamoja AFCON 2027 Multi-Agency Team (CHAN-AFCON) to streamline efforts towards Kenya’s successful hosting of the two tournaments.
Murkomen conveyed the new development through a gazette notice published on Friday, December 6, notifying that the team will have a Project Oversight Council, National Steering Committee, and Secretariat drawing members from the government, football stakeholders, the private sector, and the media.
Mulee is set to be part of the 21-member steering committee that is to be headed by former Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, deputised by the President of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Other notable appointments include Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, veteran journalist Elias Makori, and former Harambee Starlets captain Terry Ouko.
The committee will also comprise Principal Secretaries from the Foreign Affairs, ICT, Tourism, Health, and East African community ministries. It will also have the chair of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, the chair of the Media Owners Association, five representatives from FKF, the county secretary for Nairobi County, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Academy of Sports.
On the other hand, the Project Oversight Council is to consist of the CS Murkomen and PSs from the ministries of Sports, Defence, Treasury, and Transport. The Secretariat is to be made up of nine members headed by prominent media personality Mike Rabar, deputised by Patrick Korir, the FKF secretary general.
The Secretariat of the CHAN-AFCON MAT shall be domiciled at the Ministry of Sports, Talanta Plaza, Upper Hill, and shall assist in the day-to-day management of its affairs.
The functions of the CHAN-AFCON multi-agency team are set to encompass stakeholder engagement and governance, coordinate logistics and build infrastructure, conduct tournament planning and management, as well as oversee resource mobilisation and financial accountability.
Additionally, the team will conduct media relations and promotional campaigns, implement safety and security measures, promote tourism and collaboration, oversee the recruitment of staff and volunteers, as well as do a post-tournament review and identify areas of improvement.
The team shall be financed by the national government, donations and endowments realized from its activities.
“The CHAN-AFCON MAT shall be financed through funding appropriated for the CHAN-AFCON MAT use by the National Government and donations and endowment to realize PAMOJA CHAN 2024 and PAMOJA AFCON 2027,” the notice read.
