Kenya at high risk of losing hosting rights for CHAN: No work has started yet on the facilities set to be used in continental event
Football
By
Gilbert Wandera
| Jul 22, 2017
CAF inspectors expected on August 28
With less than one month before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspectors return to Kenya for a final inspection, work is yet to start on facilities earmarked to host next year’s Africa Nations Championships (CHAN).
Raising more concern is the fact that the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) is yet to identify contractors to begin the work.
This is despite sending out bids for upgrading the five venues where the tournament was to be held.
Kasarani, Nyayo, Kinoru in Meru, Kipchoge Keino in Eldoret and Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos are the venues set to host the competition.
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The bids were supposed to close on June 30 and those successful contracted by the beginning of this month to start work.
However, with July almost coming to an end, nothing is happening even as an August 28 deadline from CAF looms.
During its executive meeting held on Thursday and Friday in Rabat, CAF informed Kenya that they will lose the hosting rights if no work will have began by August 28.
“We have began looking for an alternative host as we are not sure whether Kenya will be ready.
“We are still determined to have them host as the East African region has not had such opportunities in the past but we must have a plan ‘B’ incase they are not ready and we don’t see any progress by August 28 a source from CAF told Standard Sports.
But Sports Principal Secretary Peter Kaberia insists Kenya will meet the deadline saying there is no reason to worry.
“Shortlisting for contractors is going on and they will be on the ground before the CAF deadline. There is absolutely no reason to worry about our preparedness. It is about meeting several milestones one after the other and we are on course,” he said.
A top official at the SSMB said contractors will be on the ground early next month.
But despite the government assurances, there is concern that stringent procurement procedures could delay work further especially if losing contractors launch an appeal.
Last month, top CAF officials said significant work must be made in upgrading the playing venues.
CAF second vice president Seleman Omari speaking after a five-day inspection period said then: “At the end of our inspection, we have given our report to the Government and will be back in August to see the progress.”