Benefits of the event had already been seen since many stadia were already being renovated

Confederation of African Football vice-president Suketu Patel (left) and CS Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts Dr Hassan Wario during media briefing on CHAN 2018 games preparations at Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts head office on Friday, Feb 24, 2015. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

A lot was expected when Kenya won the rights to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in February 2014.

It had been considered as a big win not only for football lovers, but also for the Kenyan economy. From transport to hotel and tourism sectors, the impact would have been huge.

However, that never came to pass as the nation’s unpreparedness and political uncertainty forced the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Kenya of the hosting rights.

This is the second time Kenya is failing to stage a major football tournament after they lost the 1996 African Cup of Nations hosting rights to South Africa.

Although the costs of hosting such a major sporting event were high, the competition could have given many economic, social and cultural benefits to Kenya.

Countries like South Africa and United Kingdom have benefited a lot from hosting major sporting tournaments like the World Cup and Olympics Games.

The economic impact such a  tournament could have been huge, not only on Kenya’s global profile, but also its trade and investment.

The renovation construction has began in readines for the CHAN tournament to be held in Kenya next year where Nyayo National Stadium will be one of the hosting fields. Aug 27, 2017. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

This was expected to be a catalyst for new and improved facilities that would support the development of the game at all levels. Maybe, the  home fans could have also pushed national team Harambee Stars to a medal bracket, for the first time in many years.

The sporting industry had already started experiencing some infrastructural changes as Kasarani, Nyayo, Kipchoge Keino and Kinuru Stadiums were all undergoing major face-lifts.

Counties like Eldoret, Meru and Nairobi which had been earmarked as hosting towns, could have raised their profiles economically through tourist attractions and business investment.

Through their spending and injection of money into the country’s economy, the foreigners (players, visiting teams, media and fans) would have left some economic benefits to the locals thus creating a favourable climate for direct foreign investment and tourism growth.

These counties would have had a legacy of improved sporting venues, infrastructure as well as transport.

More so, the investment would have created more job opportunities for the youth, hence boosting the economy.

Both the Government and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) should apologise to Kenyans for denying them this prestigious chance to improve their livelihood and watch the best locally based stars in the continent.

The Government failed to live up to its 2013 promise to build five new world class stadiums in Garissa, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru, only for them to change the tune to refurbishing the facilities in the run up to to 2017 General Elections.

The Jubilee administration then went ahead to commit a supplementary budget of Sh4.2billion to facilitate the hosting of the CHAN, just a few days before CAF’s congress in Accra, Ghana.

On the other side, the Nick Mwendwa led-FKF seemed to have been in the comfort zone since ascending to power, concentrating on less important issues at the expense of the biennial tournament’s preparation.

Kenya’s hospitality and transport sector had been given a clean bill of health by the continental football body’s inspection team, but the Local Organising Committee was let down by the renovation of the stadia, which was way behind schedule. Save for Kasarani which was at 85 per cent ready, the  the rest were still far away from completion.

“CAF had no problems with Kasarani and Nyayo, their concern was with renovations timeline for Kinoru and Kipchoge Keino,” LOC vice chairman Herbert Mwachiro said.

“By the time of last inspection, the work done at Kasarani, Kinoru and Kipchoge Keino was at 85 per cent, 60 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. They (CAF) were pleased with our hotels, transport and what was happening at Nyayo and were sure of it being ready before the competition.”

As Kenya prepares to host CHAN tournament come 2018, Machakos stadium is under refurbishment since it will be one of the grounds to be used. Men at work could be seen in the process of putting tartan track as a result of meeting the required standards. Photo: John Muia, Standard

In the initial plans, the former Football Kenya Federation boss Sam Nyamweya, who led Kenya in winning the bid, had recommended Kisumu and Mombasa as part of the hosting cities because of their huge football following.

In addition, it would have been much easier for the organisers to quickly upgrade Moi Stadium Kisumu and Mbaraki Sports Club than to renovate Kipchoge Keino and Kinoru Stadiums, in Eldoret and Meru respectively.

But that was never put into consideration as the two counties were replaced by Meru and Eldoret due to what has been termed as political reasons when the new team came into power.

Of course hosting the tournament would have had its on disadvantages on Kenya. For instance there would have been restricted movement of the residents in some areas during the games, increase in tax after the games in some counties to fill the holes left in their coffers after they hosted the event.