Kasarani all set for Chan kick off as Mvurya hands stadium to organisers

The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is finally ready to host the continent ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN)  scheduled for August 2-30.

The stadium now meets all Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements following extensive upgrades, positioning it as a world-class venue ready to host Africa’s top footballing talent.

Among the standout improvements are newly installed LED screens to support VAR technology, high-definition replays, and in-stadium communication. 

Inside the venue, critical operational areas, including the VAR room, anti-doping centre, media tribune and players’ lounges, are now fully operational.

The stadium now boasts six modern changing rooms, surpassing CAF’s minimum standards, with extra rooms allocated for match officials and ball attendants. 

The floodlights have been upgraded to meet CAF’s luminance threshold of 1,200–2,000 lux and are backed by a reliable power redundancy system.

To enhance fan experience and safety, the stadium now features clear signage for crowd flow, an extended roof canopy providing full-tier cover, backrest seating throughout the regular stands and plush foldable seats in VIP areas. 

The stadium’s exterior has also been given a fresh visual lift with well-manicured lawns and blossoming greenery.

Safety signage has been installed throughout the venue to assist with crowd movement, and a newly extended roof canopy now offers full coverage for both the upper and lower tiers, enhancing weather protection for fans.

Spectator areas have been overhauled with backrest seats across regular stands, while VIP sections now feature foldable premium seats.

The stadium’s playing surface has also received a major facelift, with the running track temporarily removed to install a new layer of artificial turf, giving the venue a sharper, football-specific look for CHAN. 

The athletics track will be reinstated after the tournament.

On Monday, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya officially handed over the refurbished stadium to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), declaring the iconic venue ready to host the CHAN.

Kenya will co-host the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

It marks the return of CHAN to East Africa for the first time since Rwanda staged the event in 2016.

Kasarani Stadium is set to host Group A matches and the Grand Finale, cementing its status as the tournament’s showpiece venue. 

Mvurya reiterated the readiness of the venue to host a spectacular show in August.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) earlier confirmed three official host venues for the tournament, including Uganda’s Namboole Stadium in Kampala, Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and Moi Stadium, Kasarani.

Benjamin Mkapa Stadium will host the tournament opener, while Mandela Stadium will stage the third-place playoff.

The group stage fixtures have been distributed across the three co-host cities.

Group A will play in Nairobi, featuring Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo and Zambia.

Group B is set for Dar es Salaam with Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.

Group C will compete in Kampala, comprising Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, and Algeria.

Group D matches will take place in Zanzibar and include Senegal, Congo (who replaced Equatorial Guinea after a CAF Appeals Board decision), Sudan and Nigeria.

During the handover of the Kasarani stadium on Monday, Mvurya reiterated that the facility is now ready for the tournament.

CAF further earmarked Ulinzi Sports Complex and Nyayo National Stadium as official training grounds for the competition.

Mvurya also confirmed that Ulinzi Sports Complex is match-ready, having already hosted competitive fixtures. 

“Matches are being played at Ulinzi, which means it’s fully ready for CHAN,” he said.

As for Nyayo National Stadium, the CS revealed that only the perimeter wall remains incomplete. 

“Nyayo had additional CAF requirements to build a new wall. That will be completed in the next two days. Everything else is complete,” he assured.

To enhance safety and preserve the new infrastructure, Mvurya announced that CCTV systems will be installed in all venues. 

“We are enhancing the security infrastructure, including surveillance systems, to curb fan unrest and protect the facilities.”

He thanked President William Ruto for his unwavering support in fast-tracking preparations.

“We thank the president for his support and guidance as we push to ensure the stadiums are ready.”