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Alarm as 2024 Chan operations bogged down by inadequate funding
Myke Rabar, CEO of Kenya’s Local Organising Committee, appears before the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Kenya will co-host the 19-team Chan with Uganda and Tanzania from Saturday to August 30
- While appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture on Thursday, LOC’s chairman Nicholas Musonye said his team is grappling with financial challenges.
The head of Kenya’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) has raised fears that the country may not host the tournament to the required standard due to inadequate funding.
At the same time, the LOC has revealed that consignments belonging to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the tournament in Nairobi were facing clearance delays at various entry points into Kenya since the government has yet to implement the guaranteed tax exemptions on the equipment.
Kenya will co-host the 19-team Chan with Uganda and Tanzania from Saturday to August 30.
While appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture on Thursday, LOC’s chairman Nicholas Musonye said his team is grappling with financial challenges, which threaten Kenya’s ability to successfully host the tournament.
While imploring the MPs to intervene, Musonye said the budget for the tournament is to the tune of Sh 1.4 billion.
Musonye said although the LOC has explained the situation to the government, including Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, they have yet to receive the funds.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaks at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani after conducting security assessment on July 15,2025. With him are Sports CS Salim Mvurya (left) Chan Local Organising Committee Chairman Nicholas Musonye (right) and other government officials on July 14,2025.
“We shared our concerns with them. We asked them for an urgent intervention because if we don’t get a response in time, we may be caught off-guard and some services and goods may not be secured,” said the former Cecafa Secretary General.
Myke Rabar, the Chief Executive Officer of the LOC, clarified to Nation Sport after the meeting that they have thus far received just about 10 per cent of the budget.
Webuye West Member of Parliament Dan Wanyama who is the chairman of the Parliamentary committee, assured the LOC of their full support, including doing a follow-up with the government officials to ensure they receive the funds.
“We will push for the budget to make sure that you are comfortable and also able to motivate your team. If they are hungry and don’t have facilitation, I can assure you that they will be the first people to sabotage you,” said Wanyama.
Being a continental showpiece with strict CAF requirements to be met, the LOC has contracted several firms for the tournament’s success, with the budget covering their remuneration.
They include security personnel, medics, transport providers, and hoteliers.
Rabar revealed that some of the imported equipment was only released yesterday after being detained at the airport for a while. “CAF were very keen that they needed to get an exemption on services and products rendered for the tournament,” said Rabar.
“Getting the exemption obviously has a lot of bureaucracy. We have so far jumped one step. We had some equipment struck at the airport, which has since been cleared today (Thursday), but more consignments are coming constantly and we need to have them cleared quickly,” he said.
Rabar also highlighted challenges in procuring various equipment due to the recently implemented E-GP System (Electronic Government Procurement System).
“As of today, some of us have been unable to log in (EGP System), so we have to find ways to mitigate that because the event has to continue,” he said.
