Hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) was supposed to be Kenya’s moment to shine.
Instead, a string of fines, chaos, and stern warnings from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have threatened to overshadow Kenya’s domination of Group ‘A’, the tournament’s ‘group of death’ comprising the pair of two-time Chan champions, DR Congo and Morocco, Chan 2011 runners-up Angola, and Zambia, who finished third at Chan 2009.
Kenyan fans arrive at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 7, 2025 for the 2024 African Nations Championship Group 'A' match between Kenyan and Angola.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
As Harambee Stars lead the group with seven points from three matches, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is also leading the fines and sanctions table. FKF has now racked up a staggering Sh12.8 million in penalties for repeated safety and security breaches.
The latest was a $50,000 (Sh6.5 million) fine for security lapses that occurred during Harambee Stars’ historic 1-0 victory over Morocco on Sunday at Kasarani.
In its ruling, CAF’s Disciplinary Board said FKF violated Articles 82, 83, 151 of the Disciplinary Code and Articles 15, 28, 31, 32, 43 of the Safety & Security Regulations.
To prevent more safety and security breaches, CAF has ordered FKF and the 2024 Chan to beef up security at Kasarani’s perimeter and close all roads leading to the stadium by 6am on match day.
Also, starting with Harambee Stars final group game against Zambia on Sunday at Kasarani, CAF directed limiting Kasarani’s capacity to 27,000, down from 48,000, for Kenya’s home matches with entry being only by use of electronic tickets.
A fan of Harambee Stars proudly displays the badge on his shirt during the 2024 African Nations Championship Group 'A' match between Kenyan and Morocco at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Failure to comply with the directives would see subsequent Harambee Stars home matches played abroad.
Following the directives from CAF, the government has also responded with measures of its own.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, speaking at a press briefing at Talanta Plaza on Wednesday admitted the government’s failure to prevent the crisis.
“We have had gaps, and some have led to sanctions. We have assured CAF we will support FKF to close those gaps,” he said.
To cater for ticketless fans and prevent overcrowding at match venues on match day, Mvurya announced that the Ministry, in collaboration with FKF and Kenya’s 2024 Chan LOC, will create six official fan zones at Uhuru Park in Nairobi CBD, the Lucky Summer–Ngomongo area in the space behind Kasarani Stadium, the Dandora Stadium, Utalii (Stima Club), the Jacaranda Grounds, and the Kibera DC Grounds. The fan zones will have giant screens with crowd marshals supporting the police to provide tight security.
The announcement of creation of the fan zones by CS Mvurya is a welcome addendum to the tournament in Kenya.
Better late than never after repeated security breaches by anxious fans wanting to watch Kenyan matches live and frustrations of missing out on tickets to engage in the football party.
Fans on their way to Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi for the 2024 African Nations Championship Group 'A' match between Kenyan and Morocco on August 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
They stand out as the energy and heart of the events. They create party atmospheres which creates moments that go viral online, such as a multitude of fans chanting their nation’s anthem in unison or wildly celebrating a goal.
Fan zones also provide opportunities for official tournament sponsors to interact with sports fans more closely through activations and sale of merchandise or promotion of their services.
They present them as fun alternatives to watching matches live at stadiums. For instance, the 2022 Fifa World Cup had several fan zones
The Fifa Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park attracted around 70,000 daily visitors, and a total of 1.8 fans attended the festival site during the World Cup.
On July 24, the Chan 2024 LOC Chairman Nicholas Musonye and the organisation’s CEO Myke Rabar appeared before Parliament’s Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture and informed MPs of plans to put up a fan zone at Uhuru Park from the tournament’s first day to its last.
Further, they informed Parliament that they had hoped to replicate that throughout the country during Chan 2024 but budgetary constraints compelled them to shelve the plan.
