Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has announced that Kenya is pushing for increased stadium attendance in the upcoming CHAN 2024 quarter-final clash between Kenya and Madagascar.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 20, Mvurya explained that the appeal comes after the Kenya versus Zambia fixture at Kasarani on Sunday, August 17, which was held without any incidents.
He revealed that the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has already approached the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with a request to review the current 60 percent stadium capacity limit. “FKF has already engaged CAF to have the numbers revised; however, we await CAF’s response and will communicate any updates in due course,” he said.
On ticketing, Mvurya assured supporters that CAF is working to resolve the challenges that briefly disrupted access to tickets through its online portal. “CAF is sorting out the issue of ticketing. There was a challenge yesterday, and they are working on it. We are confident they will announce soon how fans can access tickets through the portal. In the meantime, we urge Kenyans to maintain their high spirits, unity, and unwavering support for the Harambee Stars,” he added.
The CS also welcomed CAF’s positive review of Sunday’s game, noting that the match was handled smoothly without any concerns. “We did not have any incident that could attract sanctions from CAF and therefore we want to thank the 12th man, the fans, the security team and all stakeholders who played a key role in ensuring a seamless game on Sunday. This affirmation underscores Kenya’s commitment to delivering a safe and world-class tournament experience,” he further said.
To enhance participation, the government—through FKF and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC)—has expanded the number of official fan zones from 10 to 13.
The new fan zones are located in Ruiru, Camp Toyoyo in Dagoretti, and Baba Dogo. These will add to the existing venues at Uhuru Park, Archives, Dandora, Jacaranda, Clay City, Githurai, Kibra DC Grounds, and Lucky Summer.
Mvurya also urged private organizations and county governments to establish additional fan zones, provided they coordinate with the LOC.