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Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dispelled reports that Kenya’s hosting rights for the CHAN football tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania had been revoked.

Speaking during a local TV programme, Murkomen indicated that the plan to host the event was on course and that a multi-agency team was working round the clock to ensure its success.

“Definitely we are hosting CHAN from February 1-28, 2024. We are burning the midnight oil to make sure that our facilities are ready for hosting. It has not been easy and I have been getting updates every three days in a week and the contractors have assured us that they are going to do everything humanly possible to make sure that we beat the deadline,” Murkomen said.

Made a mistake

Murkomen revealed that it was a mistake to offer two stadiums for the games while co-host countries provided one each, given that Kenya lacked a single CAF-approved stadium.

“We offered to avail two stadiums in the region but unfortunately, I think that was a mistake because even Uganda and Tanzania who had CAF-qualified stadia only offered one stadium each,” he added.

“Kasarani stadium’s contract was awarded in May this year and there is a massive overhaul including the roof, the pitch and other fittings and removing all the seats. That pressure from May has been extremely immense. Part of the seats are in Mombasa while some are in the high seas including part of the roofing material.”

It remains unclear whether the government will be able to beat the deadline set on December 31, 2024, for the Nyayo Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Uganda and Tanzania ready

Tanzania has the 60,000-capacity Benjamin Mkapa Stadium while Uganda completed renovations of the 60,000-capacity 27-year-old Mandela National Stadium in 2023 to meet FIFA standards.

Reports emerged that Kenya had been denied the right to host the tournament which will be held in the three East African countries and will feature 19 teams from across the continent.

The development comes just days after Murkomen formed a multi-agency team in a gazette notice to fast-track the readiness and hosting of the matches early next year.

“Now therefore, the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Executive Order No. 2 of 2023 and the Sports Act, 2013 do establish the Pamoja CHAN 2024 and Pamoja AFCON 2027 multi-agency team (CHAN-AFCON MAT),” Murkomen said