Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dismissed rumors that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) might strip Kenya of its hosting rights for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in favor of Rwanda.

With just 20 days to CAF’s deadline for Kenya to demonstrate readiness to host these flagship tournaments, the two designated stadiums—Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo Stadium—are still far from completion. Both facilities have been closed for months for renovations and facelifts.

Murkomen Calls for Patriotism

Murkomen urged Kenyans to remain patriotic and avoid spreading negative propaganda about the country’s ability to host international competitions.

“Kenya will deliver a historic tournament in both CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027,” said Murkomen. “It’s healthy to debate whether we can host CHAN. The pressure is good, as it helps us recognize and embrace our capacity to deliver.”

The CS added, “We are definitely hosting CHAN from February 1 to February 28, 2025. While the schedule and team allocations are yet to be finalized, contractors have assured us that they will do everything possible to meet the deadline.”

He also thanked the media for refraining from focusing on the negatives during this critical period when Kenya seeks to establish itself as a regional sporting hub.

Acknowledging Challenges

Murkomen acknowledged the challenges posed by Kenya’s ambitious bid, admitting that offering two stadiums might have been an oversight.

“In hindsight, committing to two stadiums was a mistake. Even Uganda and Tanzania, with CAF-qualified stadia, only offered one each. Kasarani’s massive overhaul has put immense pressure on us since the contract was awarded in May,” he explained.

Hussein Mohammed Calls for Private Sector Support

Newly elected Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed called on the private sector to play an active role in the development of football and sports in general.

“We need to prepare our national team, Harambee Stars. The private sector must stop being on the sidelines. This is a fresh start. We will use our influence to champion a national agenda for football,” Hussein said. “I have spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and we plan to meet soon. Football must become a mainstream part of our national priorities.”

Local Organizing Committee Vows to Deliver

Nicholas Musonye, the head of the CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027 Local Organizing Committee, admitted that Kenya is behind schedule but promised to do everything possible to deliver CHAN.

“We are behind schedule, but we will do our best to deliver CHAN 2024 and an even better AFCON 2027,” Musonye stated. “I wasn’t very optimistic about CHAN due to time constraints, but our team is determined to make it happen.”

CAF’s Concerns Over Kenya’s Progress

Kenya won the bid to host CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027 jointly with Uganda and Tanzania. While Uganda and Tanzania already have stadiums meeting CAF’s requirements, Kenya’s infrastructure remains inadequate.

CAF inspectors have made two visits to assess the progress in the three countries. While Uganda and Tanzania were commended for their readiness, Kenya’s facilities fell short of expectations. The next inspection will be critical in determining whether Kenya retains its hosting rights.

Implications of Losing Hosting Rights

CHAN 2024 is scheduled to kick off on February 1, 2025, and end on February 28, 2025. Losing the hosting rights would be a significant blow to Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a regional sports hub and could tarnish the country’s reputation in the global sporting arena.

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