CCTV cameras are set to be installed at Nyayo Stadium as part of a wider effort to improve security, in line with recommendations from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya confirmed the move on Wednesday, June 11, amid the ongoing national conversation about the role of surveillance in ensuring public safety and accountability.
According to the CS, the installation is part of the final phase of renovations aimed at aligning Nyayo with CAF standards, ahead of the CHAN Championship set for August.
“The most important thing is that we're strengthening, we're beautifying, and we're enhancing with CCTV gadgets after it is completed,” said Mvurya.
The CS further noted that work across various stadiums is now more than 80 per cent complete, with less than 15 weeks to the start of the continental competition.
In addition, Mvurya also revealed that CAF had recommended the rebuilding of the perimeter wall around Nyayo Stadium, citing security concerns.
The decision to introduce CCTV and upgrade the stadium’s perimeter wall follows several CAF-monitored test matches at the venue, including one featuring the Harambee Stars.
With large crowds expected during international events, CAF is insistent that having reliable, high-quality surveillance is no longer optional. Surveillance cameras are particularly crucial in managing queues, monitoring entry points, and ensuring stewards are effectively deployed during match days.
On the other hand, an unscaled perimeter wall can act as a deterrent to crime, particularly after scenes which were witnessed on March 23, 2025, during the World Cup qualifier match between Kenya and Gabon, when hundreds of fans damaged infrastructure to gain entry to the venue.
As the government battles against time to ensure all designated facilities are ready for the second most prestigious tournament in Africa after the Africa Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) continues to send officials to inspect progress and deliver reports.
During one of the latest assessments on May 28, CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo sounded the alarm to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, cautioning that failure by Kenya to execute CHAN effectively would put the country, and Africa in general, at risk.
According to Mosengo, a sub-standard tournament would effectively jeopardise stakeholders’ and investors’ confidence in Kenya and Africa in hosting continental events.
