58 days to CHAN: Can Kenya beat the clock or face another national embarrassment?

Kenya faces a tight 28-day deadline to finalize CHAN 2024 preparations amid mounting challenges and CAF inspectors' concerns.

Over 28 years ago, Kenya lost the opportunity to host the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a personal letter from then-President Daniel arap Moi to CAF President Issa Hayatou confirmed the country’s inability to host the continental tournament.

What followed was a ban from the next two AFCON tournaments—a humiliating chapter in Kenya’s football history that officials and fans vowed would never repeat itself.

Fast forward to 2018, history seemed to echo as Kenya was stripped of hosting rights for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) due to delays in meeting infrastructure requirements.

Now, with less than a month to the December 31 deadline, Kenya is in a frantic dash to avoid a third debacle as it prepares to co-host CHAN 2024 alongside neighbors Uganda and Tanzania.

CAF inspectors, who recently toured Kenya’s proposed venues, issued a sobering verdict: work remains “significantly behind schedule.”

The inspection team reviewed multiple facilities, including the 60,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani and the 30,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium.

According to reports their concerns ranged from incomplete canopies to non-functional sound systems and even moisture issues on the pitch.

“On average, the work at Kasarani is 71 percent complete,” a source within the CAF inspection team told Nation.

“It needs to get to 100 percent by December 31.”

These revelations cast doubt on whether Kenya will meet the strict CAF standards, reigniting fears of yet another hosting embarrassment.

The source singled out Kasarani’s canopy as only 40 percent complete, with the sound system a mere 10 percent done.

Meanwhile, Nyayo’s primary issue is the ongoing installation of floodlights, though inspectors were concerned about its pitch’s moisture levels.

Despite the looming deadline, Kenyan officials are working around the clock.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen visited Kasarani last week and assured the public that renovations were on track.

"I am confident that with the contractor implementing a 24-hour work schedule, the facelift will be completed within the set deadlines,"Murkomen wrote on his X account.

While the sense of urgency is palpable, questions linger over whether Kenya’s efforts are too little, too late.

MISC Kasarani has been closed for renovations since December last year, and Nyayo followed suit in August.

Yet, as the CAF delegation observed, significant upgrades are still pending.

To meet CAF’s stringent requirements, the venues need more than just upgraded pitches and changing rooms.

Facilities must also be near an international airport and a level-five hospital. Kenya appears to be faring better in these categories, with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and numerous top-tier hotels in Nairobi receiving favorable reviews.

In stark contrast, co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania are miles ahead in their preparations. Both countries boast FIFA/CAF-approved stadiums—the 42,000-seater Mandela National Stadium in Kampala and the 60,000-seater Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Uganda and Tanzania have also already formed their respective Local Organizing Committees (LOCs), a critical requirement for hosting CHAN.

Meanwhile, Kenya has yet to unveil its LOC, reportedly delayed by last-minute adjustments.

“This kind of procrastination is what got us into trouble in 1996 and 2018.We seem to be repeating the same mistakes.” lamented a local football analyst.

CHAN, a biennial tournament exclusively for locally-based players, offers Kenya a rare chance to showcase its footballing potential on the continental stage.

The tournament will feature 19 teams between February 1 and 24 next year.

However, the stakes go beyond just football. Successfully hosting CHAN could pave the way for Kenya to co-host the prestigious 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

“Everyone is aware that we need to accelerate the work so that we don’t embarrass ourselves,” noted another CAF source as quoted by Nation.

Yet, as the December 31 deadline looms, there’s a growing sense that Kenya’s habit of last-minute preparations might cost it dearly.

The memories of 1996 and 2018 are still fresh in the minds of Kenyan football fans.

The former saw South Africa step in to host the Afcon, going on to win their first and only continental title in a triumphant debut.

The latter saw Morocco replace Kenya as CHAN hosts, delivering a polished tournament that left Kenya’s football reputation in tatters.

While the situation appears grim, there is a sense of cautious optimism among some stakeholders.

The Kenyan government has promised to spare no expense, and CAF officials acknowledged the progress already made in key areas such as the arena and changing rooms at Kasarani. These are reportedly 80 percent complete.

The ongoing renovations and CAF’s sharp critique serve as a wake-up call for Kenya to invest more heavily in sports infrastructure.

With CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027 on the horizon, the country’s football leadership faces a pivotal moment.

Failure to deliver could cement Kenya’s reputation as a perennial underachiever in African football.

But for now, all eyes are on the clock—and on the workers at Kasarani and Nyayo, who have less than a month to prove that Kenya can rise to the occasion.

Whether history will repeat itself or a new chapter will be written remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: the nation cannot afford another 1996.