African Nations Championship (CHAN) Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman Nicholas Musonye has raised concerns about the readiness of Kirigiti Stadium, one of the designated training venues for the upcoming tournament set to kick off on Saturday, 2 August.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsDuring a routine inspection by CAF assessors on Saturday, the team was disappointed by the stadium’s state.At the time of the visit, a tractor was seen digging the playing surface—a worrying sign given that only two months remain before the tournament begins. The stadium’s current condition casts serious doubt on its ability to be ready in time.##NAJAVA_MECA_8945544##So far, the only facility that has received CAF’s full approval is the Ulinzi Sports Complex. CAF praised it as being in pristine condition, with all necessary infrastructure in place.The stadium underwent an extensive facelift, costing taxpayers nearly Ksh500 million, and has since hosted several key matches, including the Harambee Starlets’ WAFCON qualifiers, FKF Premier League fixtures, Women’s Premier League, and lower-tier games.Kirigiti Stadium, which has already consumed millions in repeated renovations, is once again under scrutiny.Saturday’s visit confirmed that no significant work has been ongoing at the site, making it unlikely to meet the required standards in time to host team training sessions.Fans divided over Victor Wanyama’s desire to return to Harambee StarsMusonye acknowledged the difficulty the LOC is facing with Kirigiti’s progress but remained cautiously optimistic.”The only challenge we are facing is the Kirigiti training venue, but we hope it will be ready for use by the end of July,” he told Daily Nation on Monday.However, the timeline is tight, as CAF typically takes over hosting facilities, including training grounds, at least one month before the tournament begins.Musonye added that preparations at the main venues—Nyayo Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani—are progressing well, with only minor improvements pending.A spot check, however, revealed that the perimeter wall at Nyayo is still under construction as part of matchday security enhancements.“There are minor areas our specialists are working on to ensure they [Nyayo and MISC] are 100 percent perfect,” he said.Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya echoed Musonye’s sentiments, assuring Kenyans of the country’s readiness to host the continental tournament. In a statement released on Monday, he dismissed negative reports circulating online.Nairobi United reveal transfer plan after securing FKF Premier League slot“I want to assure Kenyans that on Friday, we met a team from CAF currently in the country for routine inspections that will continue until July. Based on our discussions and the report we received, Kenya is ready to host CHAN. Any contrary reports, whether on social media or elsewhere, should be treated as unfounded,” Mvurya stated.“We have invested significantly in Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums, and all other processes are on track to meet the tournament’s hosting requirements,” he added.MPs finger government over Ksh3.9 billion 2027 AFCON fees
