Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has announced that the Ministry of Sports has officially begun preparations for the national football team, Harambee Stars, ahead of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to run from August 2 to 30.
Mvurya’s statement comes amid growing scrutiny over Kenya’s preparedness to co-host the prestigious continental tournament, which features players who compete in their domestic leagues.
The 2025 edition, the eighth since CHAN’s inception, will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—marking the first time in the tournament’s history that three nations will stage the competition jointly.
A delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is currently in Nairobi to inspect key match venues, including Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. They will also assess training grounds such as Police Sacco Stadium, Kasarani Annex, and Kirigiti Stadium.
While renovations and upgrades are ongoing across various football facilities, CS Mvurya emphasized that focus is now shifting toward assembling a strong national squad.
“The next few weeks will be crucial,” said Mvurya. “I’ll be concentrating on ensuring Harambee Stars are fully prepared and in peak condition to challenge for the CHAN title. That is our clear objective.”
Kenya faces a daunting task in Group A, having been drawn alongside CHAN heavyweights Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as Angola and Zambia.
Both Morocco and DRC have lifted the CHAN trophy twice, making them the tournament’s most successful teams to date.
Angola and Zambia also bring a strong pedigree to the group. Angola were runners-up in the 2011 edition held in Sudan, while Zambia secured third place in 2009 with a 2-1 victory over Senegal in the playoff.
The CHAN tournament also serves as a key precursor to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will also be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
