Musonye slams govt bigwigs over CHAN VVIP seat chaos
By Kiprono Keileb, August 4, 2025CHAN Local Organising Committee Chair Nicholas Musonye has raised concerns over the rising tension and confusion around access to the presidential box during matches, blaming it on a scramble for space by senior government officials.
Speaking during a live TV talk show on Monday, August 4, 2025, Musonye clarified that both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums have a strict limit on VVIP seating capacity, and space is not infinite.
“There is a presidential box that is limited to 60 in both Kasarani and Nyayo, VVIP, where it used to be 100, now it is 60. The other VIP that is there is not more than 200,” he said
Musonye revealed that officials, including Cabinet Secretaries and other senior civil servants, have been asked to confirm their attendance in advance to allow proper planning. However, he noted that this simple protocol is being ignored by many, leading to last-minute congestion and security confusion around the presidential section.
“Top government officials, including Cabinet Secretaries or civil servants, we ask them to confirm their attendance on time so that the allocations can be made,” he stated.
According to Musonye, the situation is further worsened by a culture in which everyone wants to be seated near the Head of State, disrupting both organisation and protocol.
“The problem in this country, where the President sits, everyone needs to sit around there, so it becomes so difficult to control people,” Musonye said
Musonye explained that of the 60 presidential box seats, only 30 are available for Kenyans, while the remaining half is reserved for Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials.
“The 60 slots will be for half Kenyans and half from CAF staff. So, only 30 people sit on that presidential podium,” he said.
He went further to break down the numbers, underscoring just how tight the space is.
“Remember, we have 22 Cabinet Secretaries, around 12 to 16 FKF executives, presidential aides around 10, and space is already gone,” he added
His remarks come in the wake of reports that several senior government officials were denied entry into the presidential box during recent matches, raising eyebrows about coordination and access to high-level seating at CHAN events.
Musonye’s remarks highlight the logistical challenge of balancing protocol, security, and the competing interests of high-ranking dignitaries in a space that simply cannot accommodate everyone, regardless of their title.