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| Renovated Kasarani Stadium Photo | Courtesy |
Despite the gravity of the tournament and the fanfare surrounding its buildup, key facilities are still far from meeting the required CAF standards.
The slow pace of renovations of National stadia and lack of visible progress cast doubt on the country’s preparedness, raising questions about the seriousness of stakeholders entrusted with delivering a successful continental showpiece.
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| A grader at work in the ongoing Kirigiti stadium renovation, Kiambu county Photo | Courtesy |
CHAN was supposed to be held throughout February this year but was later postponed, six months ahead, after a delegation from the continental apex body deemed the East African hosts unprepared.
In a statement issued by the continent’s football regulating body, CAF stated that the stadia and transport networks to the fields were yet to be done for such a competition which will involve a number of African countries.
Among the facilities which required renovations were Kenya's Kasarani stadium, Nyayo National Stadium and the Talanta Sports Center, which is under construction and expected to host the opening fixture as well as the final.
Despite the postponement, Kenya still lags behind in terms of these renovations and improvements which puts the opportunity at risk of being taken to another country which may be ready with the facilities of the required standards or even it will not be a surprise seeing another procrastination.
The slow pace in improving the development of these facilities may be viewed as negligence and ignorance towards this tournament from the stakeholders and more so The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) as time has since Kenya got this opportunity.
Despite months of assurance from officials, key stadiums earmarked for the tournament remain far from ready. Renovation works at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium — the only two venues that show any sign of progress — have lagged behind expected timelines. Other proposed venues such as Kipchoge Keino in Eldoret and Mombasa’s Mbaraki Sports Ground have either not started or are grappling with serious delays.
In a meeting with the CAF delegation, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, assured them that Kenya is committed to hosting a world-class tournament.
“We welcome the support that CAF has accorded Kenya, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania during this critical preparation period, we do not take it for granted. I want to assure CAF that Kenya is ready, and we have aligned our systems to fully support CAF in delivering a stellar event,” said CS Mvurya.
I want to assure CAF that Kenya is ready, and we have aligned our systems to fully support CAF in delivering a stellar event.
FKF President Hussein Mohamed echoed the same optimism, pointing to the ongoing work at Talanta Sports Center as proof of Kenya’s seriousness.
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| The ongoing construction of the Talanta Stadium in Nairobi Photo | Courtesy |
However, critics argue that these efforts are not enough and are far behind schedule. There has been a lack of transparency around timelines, contingency plans, and clear reporting on infrastructure milestones. With CAF's strict regulations, failure to meet stadium standards could force Kenya to lose hosting rights to key fixtures.
A recent inspection by CAF representatives reportedly raised eyebrows, with concerns over basic requirements such as drainage systems, player facilities, security features, media areas, and seating capacity still unaddressed.
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| CS Mvurya Meets with the CAF officials Photo | Courtesy |
With CAF known for its strict standards, the possibility of Kenya losing hosting rights for some matches looms, if the current pace continues.
Beyond the stadium walls, another glaring issue looms — the roads leading to these venues. While renovations inside the stadiums have picked up pace, no visible work has begun on improving accessibility to these venues, parking facilities.
With just two months remaining, it's unclear when, or if, these critical support systems will receive attention. If the current focus remains solely on stadiums, Kenya risks hosting a tournament plagued by logistical nightmares, from traffic congestion to poor fan experiences. The big question now is: once the stadiums are done, will there still be time — and budget — left for the roads?
CHAN 2025 is not just about football — it’s about legacy. The opportunity to host should ideally lead to lasting improvements in sports infrastructure, tourism, and economic activity. But unless drastic measures are taken now, Kenya risks falling short, both in preparation and in seizing the long-term benefits of co-hosting and losing this opportunity may also put us at a risk of losing the rights to host AFCON 2027 which will be a great shame to our sports doquet and country at large.
It is high time for our leaders and sports stakeholders to wake up and utilize the remaining time properly as all is not lost. If the negligence and ignorance are shun, we can still host this championship.
Time for promises is over, it's time to put tools into work and ensure we don't lose this opportunity. Budget allocation for this vital sector will be of great boost to hasten our preparedness.
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