NAIROBI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will step up security ahead of the delayed 2024 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) which opens next month, according to a senior government official.
"We want to assure the country that we have put in place elaborate measures to ensure visitors are received well at the airport. They are going to be facilitated at the airport. We have also put security at the airport to ensure visitors are screened," Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary at the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, told reporters here on Monday evening.
Murkomen toured facilities that will host the tournament in Nairobi on Monday to assess the security measures in place and he revealed security arrangements would be extended beyond the stadiums to include hotels, major roads, and key tourist destinations.
"This is a moment of national pride for us. We are lucky as a country that we shall be hosting the finals of the CHAN this year. This is a great opportunity for us to rally behind our team so that we shall have our national team playing in the finals at home," he added.
Both Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums have been upgraded with modern access gates requiring digital entry cards, reducing the risk of overcrowding and potential stampedes, according to Murkomen.
Kenya, along with neighbors Tanzania and Uganda, will co-host the 19-team tournament which is designed for home-based players. The competition will kick off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on August 2 and conclude in Nairobi on August 30.
The three countries are also set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. ■
