Kenya have offered visa-free entry for fans, media, and anyone involved in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This move is part of a larger effort in East Africa to make it easier for people to cross borders during these big tournaments. Uganda has already set up a similar visa waiver, and Tanzania is expected to jump on board soon.
Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, is gearing up for their first-ever CHAN tournament, which features players from local leagues. They’ve been placed in Group A with Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Angola. Their first match will be against DR Congo on August 3 at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, and Nyayo Stadium will also be hosting several games.
Nicholas Musonye, who heads the Local Organising Committee (LOC), announced the visa waiver during a press conference in Nairobi after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspected the country’s readiness for the tournament. He thanked the government for its support.
“Kenya has waived visa fees. Fans coming to watch CHAN or AFCON won’t need to pay for a visa. They can travel freely between Kenya, Uganda, and soon Tanzania, as long as they’re here for the football,” Musonye said.
He also pointed out that while the visa waiver is a great move, security is still a top priority. “We can’t just throw open our borders without checking things out. Our security forces will stay alert. If you’re coming from Congo, Egypt, Uganda, or anywhere else, you need to show that you’re here for the competition,” he stressed.
Musonye mentioned that they’re almost ready for the tournament, even though there were some early doubts.
“CAF came to check us out in January, March, and May, and there were questions about whether we’d be ready. But now we’ve proven ourselves. Our facilities are about 98 percent ready. No stadium is ever 100 percent perfect, but we’re more than capable of hosting a great CHAN tournament,” he said.
The 2024 CHAN tournament was pushed from February to August to give everyone more time to get ready. It’ll also serve as a practice run for the 2027 AFCON, which Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host, marking a return for East Africa to hosting major continental events after many years.
“With everything we have set up, we’re not just prepared for CHAN; we’re also laying the groundwork for an amazing AFCON in 2027. I’ve been around the continent, and I can genuinely say our facilities are some of the best,” Musonye concluded.
