Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has dispelled concerns that Kenya is unprepared to host the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) this August. He stated that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already approved Kenya’s readiness for the event.
“I have seen comments on social media suggesting that Kenya is not ready to host CHAN. I want to clarify that I met with a team from CAF on Friday, and it is common for them to conduct inspections up until the final day in July. During our discussions and in the report, it was determined that Kenya is ready to host CHAN,” Mvurya stated.
This response comes amid ongoing worries about the country’s ability to co-host the continental event, particularly regarding the condition of the playing pitches.
Work is still underway at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium, which have been designated as the two venues for the tournament. With just over two months until the opening ceremony in August, concerns have intensified due to reports suggesting that CAF has provided a negative assessment of the grass quality on the two pitches.
According to unofficial reports, CAF inspectors have claimed that the grass is of low quality and does not meet international standards. This has led to outrage on social media, with many criticizing the government for its failure to prepare the pitches appropriately.
However, Mvurya insisted that everything is progressing according to schedule and urged Kenyans to disregard any contrary reports.
“Any reports—whether on social media or elsewhere—should be ignored. We have invested significantly in our infrastructure at Kasarani and Nyayo. We have already allocated Ksh 1.6 billion for the hosting fee, and all other processes are proceeding normally to ensure we are ready for CHAN,” he affirmed.
Kenya will co-host the tournament—traditionally featuring players from local leagues—with neighboring countries Tanzania and Uganda. The event was initially scheduled for February but was postponed to August due to the pitches’ unreadiness.
Despite these concerns, Mvurya stated that the national team will soon begin preparations for the tournament.
“In fact, in the coming weeks, I will focus on preparing the Harambee Stars to ensure they can secure the trophy,” the CS concluded.
The national team will compete against Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, and Zambia in Group A.
