The government has moved to avert concerns that Kenya could lose hosting rights for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) due to unpreparedness in the infrastructure department.
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, issued a statement on Monday, May 26, insisting that Kenya was well on course to host the tournament, with the assessors from the Confederation of African Football giving the okay after their latest visit.
While speaking during the official handover of the newly refurbished Raila Odinga Stadium, Mvurya dismissed concerns over the presence of CAF assessors in the country, insisting their presence was standard procedure.
“We had a meeting on Friday with the CAF officials because it is standard procedure for CAF to conduct periodic inspections up until the final day in July. In our discussions, we affirmed Kenya's full readiness to host CHAN,” Mvurya said in a statement.
His remarks came hours after worrying reports emerged suggesting that the CAF assessors flagged the state of the playing surfaces at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and the selected training grounds as substandard.
In his statement, Mvurya reiterated the financial commitment Kenya had made to co-host CHAN, adding that the government was determined to deliver a successful and world-class tournament.
“We have invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades, including at Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums, and have already paid the hosting fee amounting to KES 1.6 billion. The ongoing assessments by CAF are routine and essential to ensure all host nations are in alignment with tournament standards,” Mvurya added.
The CS further urged the public to disregard misinformation about Kenya's chances of hosting the second most prestigious tournament in Africa after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 2024 edition of the African Nations Championship is set to be co-hosted by Kenya and its East African neighbours, Tanzania and Uganda, from August 30. This will mark the first time the tournament will be jointly hosted by three countries.
While it was originally scheduled to take place in February 2025, CAF postponed the tournament to August to allow for more time for preparations. This postponement also allowed for an additional qualifying round so that the list of participating teams is finalised.
Besides Kenya, Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, and Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamisi Mwinjuma, also confirmed that their countries are fully prepared and committed to hosting the event successfully.
Ahead of the tournament, the governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania proposed discussions to explore how the "PAMOJA Visa" could enhance cross-border travel during the event.
