CS Mvurya dismisses claims Kenya lost CHAN Group D matches
By Vincent Voiyoh and Dennis Mabuka, July 2, 2025Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Salim Mvurya, has dismissed online speculations that the country lost the opportunity to host Group D matches of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) due to inadequate training facilities.
Kenya will host Group A matches at the new-look Kasarani Stadium and the polished Nyayo National Stadium, as well as the final of the competition that is coming to the East African region for the first time.
Tanzania will host Group B matches and the opening match, while Uganda takes charge of Group C. Following a CAF decision, Group D games will be staged at the Aman Stadium in Zanzibar.
The announcement from CAF to take the games involving Nigeria, Sudan, Congo and defending champions Senegal to Zanzibar sparked mixed reactions in the country, with several sources claiming that Kenya relinquished the chance for failing to provide the needed training infrastructure.
However, CS Mvurya has come out clearly on the matter, rubbishing the claims which he terms as baseless.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of Kasarani Stadium to the Local Organising Committee on Monday, June 30, 2025, CS Mvurya stated that CAF made only one decision regarding the distribution of matches and that there was no other decision elsewhere that had handed Kenya a mandate to host Group D matches.
“There was no other decision, and so I don’t think that there is anything that Kenya has lost because nothing had been decided anyway. I tried to check whether there was any other decision, but I couldn’t find it. I get surprised when people say that so-and-so has lost. Where was the decision made that Kenya was to host two groups? Did CAF communicate on the same? It is just the imagination of a few people who want to paint Kenya as a loser. Kenya has not lost anything,” Mvurya said.
He further revealed that despite the talk, Kenya will serve as the never centre for CAF for the CHAN competition, signifying the important role given to the country by the Confederation of African Football.
“In fact, we have eight high-end hotels that will be hosting the delegation. Kenya is hosting the headquarters of CAF for this championship. All the senior CAF delegates will be here in Kenya. It is surprising to hear this conversation about Kenya and Zanzibar: it is not here nor there since the decision was only one.
Kenya’s quest to stage a remarkable continental tourney received a major boost after the contractor of the Kasarani Stadium handed over the venue to the Ministry of Sports, which eventually delivered the key to the Local Organising Committee.
The ceremony was a huge milestone for Kenya after months of speculation on the country’s readiness and commitment towards the championships.
“We are happy that Kasarani Stadium is now ready for the CHAN competition, and as you all know, this is the venue for the final match. As a country, we feel honoured to have been granted the chance to host the final game. We are handing over the keys of this facility to the CHAN Local Organising Committee because they also have an obligation to brand the stadium in coordination with CAF. Next, is now to ensure we prepare our team Harambee Stars well in readiness for the competition. We will offer maximum support to the Kenya Football Federation to ensure seamless preparation for our national team,” Mvurya stated.
Kasarani Stadium, which was closed in August 2023 for renovations, has since received a great facelift and declared ready for the African football bonanza that is scheduled to kick off on 2 – 30 August this year.
Some of the new areas that were remaining so as to be given a clean bill of health include the crowd control systems, such as the turnstiles. They are now fitted and ready for the electronic ticketing system as stipulated by CAF.
More so, two giant screens are being installed and are in the final stages. A permanent public address system has been fitted.
The other areas that were critical for this CHAN competition were the playing surface, which is now in good condition.
However, the current grass is expected to be removed after the August games with Cynodon dactylonalso known as the Bermuda grass, planted for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Still at Kasarani, the canopy is done, changing rooms, floodlights (1500- 2000 lux), two elevators (new), clockrooms, Presidential lounge, VIP boxes are all done and set for the guests.
Also, the two training facilities at Kasarani, which are Annex 1 and Annex 2 are well-shaped with two newly-built changing rooms.
This will be the first time for Kenya to host a football tournament of such magnitude, having blown away the hosting rights for the 1996 African Cup of Nations and CHAN 2018.
Harambee Stars will commence its debut appearance against the Democratic Republic of Congo at Kasarani on August 3. Other teams in Kenya’s Group A include Angola, Zambia and Morocco.