Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has dismissed growing concerns over Kenya’s preparedness to host the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to kick off this August.
Responding to public speculation and online criticism, Mvurya assured that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given Kenya the green light to proceed with hosting duties.
“I’ve seen people on social media claiming that Kenya is not ready to host CHAN. I want to clarify that I held a meeting with the CAF delegation on Friday, and inspections are ongoing — as is standard procedure until the final evaluation in July. Based on our discussions and the latest report, Kenya is on track and ready to host CHAN,” Mvurya said.
His comments come amid persistent concerns about the condition of match venues, particularly the quality of pitches at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo Stadium — the two designated venues for Kenya’s share of the co-hosting responsibilities.
With just over two months to the tournament’s opening ceremony, unverified reports have surfaced suggesting that CAF inspectors flagged the grass at both stadiums as substandard and not compliant with international regulations.
The claims, though unconfirmed, have ignited widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning the government’s ability to deliver the necessary infrastructure on time.
However, Mvurya insisted that preparations are proceeding according to schedule and urged the public to disregard any reports suggesting otherwise.
“Let Kenyans remain calm and confident — everything is progressing well. The facilities will be ready,” he added.
Kenya will co-host the CHAN tournament alongside regional neighbors Uganda and Tanzania. The competition features national teams composed exclusively of players active in their respective domestic leagues.
