The government through the Ministry of Sports has moved to dispel speculation surrounding Kenya’s readiness to host the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), reiterating its full commitment to meeting Confederation of African Football (CAF) protocols and delivering a world-class tournament in August this year.
This comes after the CAF inspection team, led by third Vice President Pierre Alain Mounguengui raised concerns on the condition of the playing surfaces at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and several designated training grounds.
However the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya firmly dispelled speculation, reaffirming Kenya’s unwavering commitment and readiness to deliver a world-class tournament.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya emphasized that ongoing CAF inspections are standard procedure for all host nations. The inspections, he explained, are aimed at evaluating venue readiness, security, infrastructure, and coordination frameworks to ensure the successful delivery of the tournament.
“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,” said CS Mvurya.
The government has already invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades at key venues, including Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums, and has paid the KES 1.6 billion hosting fee required by CAF. Mvurya assured that all recommendations from the CAF inspection report are being implemented and that preparations remain on schedule.
“We have invested significantly in Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums, and all other processes are on course to align with the tournament’s hosting requirements,” he stated.
The CS reiterated that the ongoing assessments by CAF are vital to ensure all host nations align with tournament standards.
This year’s CHAN will mark a historic milestone as it will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, marking it the first time the tournament will be staged across multiple countries.
By
Samson Jura
