Kenya’s ability to co-host the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August has been thrown into question after Members of Parliament raised alarm over the country’s state of preparedness, just days before a critical inspection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The National Assembly Sports Committee voiced serious concerns over delayed renovations at key stadiums, notably the Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani—both of which remain incomplete with only a few months to go before kick-off.
While appearing before the committee, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi came under pressure to explain the slow progress at the venues earmarked for the tournament.
MPs emphasized that the current state of the facilities may fall short of CAF’s minimum requirements, risking Kenya’s place as a co-host of the prestigious continental tournament.“The state of our stadiums is worrying. We’re staring at an international embarrassment if we don’t act fast,” said one committee member during the heated session.
CHAN, a tournament exclusively reserved for players active in domestic leagues, was initially scheduled for February 2025 but was postponed to August due to readiness issues among the three co-hosts—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. With the clock ticking, lawmakers questioned whether Kenya would meet its obligations in time.
In his defense, PS Mwangi downplayed the severity of the concerns, arguing that CHAN infrastructure requirements are not as stringent as those for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya is also set to co-host.“The level of preparation required for CHAN is not as demanding as that of AFCON. We believe the current facilities can meet the threshold,” Mwangi said, expressing confidence that the stadiums could still host the event.
However, the MPs remained unconvinced, urging the Ministry of Sports to expedite all renovation works ahead of CAF’s inspection visit scheduled for next week. The results of the inspection are expected to play a pivotal role in determining whether Kenya retains its co-hosting rights.
The Ministry now faces mounting pressure to deliver the required infrastructure in record time, with the country’s reputation and hosting ambitions hanging in the balance.
