Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has issued a stern warning against the vandalism of sports infrastructure by fans during next month’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Nairobi.

Speaking during the official handover of Nyayo National Stadium to the Local Organising Committee for CHAN and AFCON, Tuya emphasized the substantial financial investment poured into renovating both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums, urging fans to act responsibly throughout the month-long tournament.

“It is a moment to also implore on our Kenyan sports fans that in the same spirit…the incidents we often see of vandalism…extreme celebration that cause destruction of the same infrastructure we have built…we should not see those incidents again,” the CS stated.

The Ministry of Defence, through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), has been instrumental in the extensive facelift of the two key venues.

Kasarani is slated to host all Harambee Stars’ Group A matches, while Nyayo will also stage the Group C encounter between Niger and Algeria.

Both stadiums are set to be central to the much-anticipated 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

Tuya reiterated KDF’s commitment to ensuring all venues meet the required standards for both biennial competitions.

“As the Ministry of Defence, we are going to deliver CHAN…we are going to deliver AFCON,” she affirmed. “Through support of the Sports Ministry, we are going to ensure that our sports facilities are up to the standards required for these tournaments.”

Echoing the call for national support, Sports CS Salim Mvurya urged Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to witness the continental spectacle.

“We had the chance to host AFCON in 1996 but we couldn’t…again we tried in 2018 and we didn’t succeed. So, this year’s competition is a historic occasion,” Mvurya noted, adding that tickets have been kept at very low prices to encourage attendance.

He expressed hope that the success of CHAN would provide crucial momentum for preparations for AFCON 2027.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on August 2 in Tanzania, with hosts Kenya kicking off their campaign two days later against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at Kasarani Stadium on August 3.

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