Government Dismisses CHAN 2024 Doubts After CAF Inspection Raises Alarm Over Nyayo, Kasarani Readiness

The Kenya government has moved swiftly to downplay growing concerns surrounding the country's preparedness to host the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), following reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspectors flagged multiple venues for failing to meet required standards.

According to reports, CAF assessors concluded their inspection tour in Kenya on Saturday, with worrying findings about the playing surfaces at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and several proposed training grounds.

The reports claim that Police Sacco Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Kasarani Annex  and the Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu have surfaces that do not meet the required standards.

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In the case of Kirigiti, work is commencing to recarpet the stadium, whose renovation progression had stalled for over 12 months, with handymen pictured doing pitchworks last week.

Meanwhile, work is going on at Nyayo Stadium to ensure a new tartan track is installed before the tournament.

 The inspection team, led by CAF’s third vice president Pierre Alain Mounguengui, arrived in Nairobi last Thursday after completing similar assessments in Kampala, Uganda. 

Their report raised alarm over Kenya’s readiness, with the surfaces reportedly falling short of CAF’s minimum criteria for continental competitions — just months before the tournament kicks off.

In response, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, firmly rejected the claims, urging the public to disregard what he termed as "misinformation" in a statement shared on his social media accounts.

Speaking during the official handover of the Raila Odinga Stadium to the National Celebrations Steering Committee ahead of the Madaraka Day celebrations, Mvurya reaffirmed Kenya's full commitment to delivering a successful CHAN 2025 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. He emphasised that the inspection was part of CAF’s normal protocol and that the government remains committed to implementing any recommendations from the evaluation report.

Mvurya highlighted that the country has already invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades at key stadiums, including Kasarani and Nyayo, and paid the required hosting fee of KES 1.6 billion.

 He insisted that all preparations are progressing on schedule and that the assessments by CAF are routine procedures designed to ensure compliance with tournament standards.

With CHAN 2025 fast approaching, all eyes remain on Kenya to not only address the concerns flagged but also prove its capability to host a competition of continental significance.