- The CS has revealed that they will have to pay extra money to import materials by air.
- Kenya has been given a deadline of December 31 to meet all the requirements.
- The upcoming CHAN tournament is expected to start in February next year.
The cabinet secretary for sports Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that the government will have to pay more money to ensure stadiums are ready for the upcoming 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
Kenya was given the rights to host the event which is scheduled to commence in February alongside its East African neighbors Uganda and Tanzania in October, 2023.
However, there have been a lot of doubts regarding whether the country will have the needed facilities ready by the end of this month to stage the continental showpiece.
In addition, some unverified reports circulating on social media platforms suggest that the country has lost the hosting rights to Rwanda.
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Speaking during an interview on NTV, Murkomen, who described the reports as pure propaganda, assured Kenyans that they will do everything to host CHAN.
“We are trying our best as I told you. The last management meeting we had was today with the contractor and he committed to do everything to make sure that he is going to get the remaining materials.
Remember that in preparation for CAF, we are not saying that the entire stadium should be complete. There is a standard that is required to be achieved. For example, you don’t have to cover the entire roof, but you should be able to make sure that it is safe for people to operate from there. But also, the lights are working and the VIP side is covered as it is required by all the standards of FIFA and CAF,” he explained.
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Nonetheless, Murkomen acknowledged that the biggest challenge they are facing at the moment is related to the installation of lights.
The former Elgeyo/Marakwet County Senator further divulged that he has had a meeting with the contractor, who promised to deliver everything on time.
The country was given a deadline of 31 December by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during the recent inspection exercise to meet all the necessary requirements.
Meanwhile, Murkomen disclosed that hosting CHAN will come with extra costs since they will have to change the mode of transportation for the required materials.
According to him, it will cost about Ksh 3.7 billion in total to complete the first stage of construction of the Nyayo and Kasarani Stadiums.
“It is going to cost us slightly some extra amount because instead of bringing the goods by sea, we must have to bring them by air and we will see about that.
Kasarani in this phase one is closer to 2.7 billion that includes the roof, the lights and everything. The preparations we are having for Nyayo for now are not that much. The work that will be done now for Nyayo will be about a billion shillings,” stated Murkomen.