The Senate has raised fresh concerns over the preparedness of Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), questioning the pace of construction and key safety measures ahead of the continental tournament.
The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, led by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, inspected the stadium to assess progress on ongoing renovation works before the December 31 handover deadline.
During the visit, lawmakers questioned whether the facility would meet the required standards, particularly in construction progress, accessibility for persons with disabilities and emergency response preparedness.
Senators question Kasarani Stadium’s fire safety measures
Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku raised concerns about the stadium’s firefighting systems after Nairobi City County officials reportedly disclosed that fire hydrants had no water during an earlier inspection.
The revelation prompted questions about the facility’s ability to respond to fire emergencies once it begins hosting major sporting events.
Nominated Senator Crystal Asige also called for sustainable accessibility measures to ensure persons with disabilities can comfortably access and use the stadium.
Her concerns focused on making the upgraded facility accessible to all spectators rather than treating disability access as an afterthought.
Project team gives assurance over December deadline
The project team, led by Major Daniel Makana, briefed the committee on the ongoing renovation works and maintained that the stadium would be completed within the stipulated timelines.
The inspection comes as Kenya accelerates preparations to co-host AFCON 2027 with Uganda and Tanzania.
Kasarani, which has a seating capacity of approximately 48,000, is among Kenya’s designated tournament venues. The 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium, also known as Talanta Sports City, is another facility earmarked to host matches.
CAF Category 4 requirements raise the stakes
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been assessing preparations across the three host nations, with stadium certification remaining a key requirement.
CAF’s Category 4 standards cover several areas, including stadium infrastructure, spectator safety, accessibility, media facilities and match-day operations.
During its initial assessment in February 2026, CAF found that none of the proposed tournament venues across the three host countries had met all the required standards. A subsequent inspection was scheduled to assess progress.
Among the requirements are a modern natural-grass playing surface, proper drainage and irrigation systems, adequate floodlighting, dressing rooms, VIP facilities, media centres and press conference rooms.
The stadiums must also have appropriate spectator circulation arrangements to support safe movement during matches.
Sports PS gives update on CAF inspection
In September 2026, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi said a recent CAF inspection had returned encouraging results.
However, the positive assessment did not amount to final certification of the stadiums.
Kasarani will therefore need to meet all the required standards before receiving approval to host AFCON 2027 matches.
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