Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has affirmed that
Kenya is fully prepared to host the upcoming continental football tournament,
describing the event as a “historic legacy” moment for the country.
Speaking during an inspection tour of Nyayo National
Stadium and Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday, Mvurya expressed satisfaction with
the progress made so far.
He noted that branding, logistical arrangements and
infrastructure upgrades are nearing completion ahead of the competition’s
kickoff.
“Today, we visited Kasarani and also came here to
Nyayo. We are looking at the final stages of branding and other preparations.
I’m very happy with the progress—we are on schedule,” Mvurya said.
The CS confirmed that several teams have already
arrived in the country, and all indicators show that the country is ready to successfully
host the tournament.
“This is a historic moment. The last time Kenya hosted
continental games was in 1987,” he said.
“In 1996, we had the bid to host the Africa Cup of
Nations but were unable to, and South Africa took over. Again in 2018, we
attempted to host CHAN, but it did not materialise,” he stated.
“So this tournament is not just about football. It is
about restoring national pride and building a lasting legacy.”
Mvurya assured the public that the government and
stakeholders are leaving nothing to chance.
Special provisions have been put in place to receive
visiting delegations, including a dedicated desk at the airport, multilingual
stewards and volunteers and a VIP lounge for high-level guests.
“We have created a welcoming environment for our CAF
delegations and visitors. Whether it’s at the airport or the stadiums, we are
ready,” he said.
In terms of medical preparedness, the Sports CS lauded
the response from key emergency partners, noting that 24 fully equipped
ambulances, stationed both at the venues and hotels, are now on standby.
“We have received great support from St. John
Ambulance and the Red Cross. Our ambulance teams have been trained on emergency
response, our security officers are ready, and even NYS personnel are equipped
to handle fire or other emergencies,” Mvurya added.
Looking ahead to the opening match this weekend,
Mvurya called on Kenyans to show up in large numbers to support the Harambee
Stars, who are set to play on Sunday.
“This is an opportunity to come together as a nation.
Those who cannot make it to the stadium can watch the games live on KBC Channel
1, so no one has an excuse to miss out,” Mvurya urged.
