Kenya’s ambition to stage a successful 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has suffered a fresh test after senators raised concerns over construction delays, inadequate disability access and emergency preparedness at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The lawmakers have demanded greater accountability from the teams overseeing the stadium’s renovation, warning that completing construction alone will not be enough unless the facility meets the safety, accessibility and operational requirements expected of a continental football venue.
The concerns emerged on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, when the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, inspected the facility to assess progress ahead of the December 31 handover deadline.
The inspection placed the spotlight on whether one of Kenya’s most important sporting facilities can be transformed into a tournament-ready venue in time for AFCON 2027, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Among the issues that attracted the committee’s attention were the pace of construction, provisions for persons living with disabilities and the ability of emergency response agencies to deal with incidents during major sporting events.
For Kenya, the questions come at a critical moment when preparations for the historic East African tournament are gathering momentum and the country is under pressure to demonstrate that its infrastructure commitments can match its hosting ambitions.
Construction deadline raises questions
During the inspection, senators questioned the pace of the ongoing renovation works and sought explanations over outstanding construction activities.
Senator Beth Syengo raised concerns about the speed of implementation, prompting the project team, led by Major Daniel Makana, to explain that earlier delays had partly resulted from payment challenges which had since been resolved.
The team told the committee that the contractor had doubled the workforce to accelerate construction and that daily and weekly progress reports were being submitted to monitor implementation.
Despite the concerns, the project officials maintained that the December 31 handover deadline remained achievable.
The renovation programme has been undertaken in two phases, with the initial works aimed at preparing the facility for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), followed by additional improvements intended to bring it closer to the standards required for AFCON 2027.
Among the improvements highlighted were a new Teflon roofing structure covering approximately 95 per cent of spectator seating, upgraded floodlighting rated at 3,000 lux and additional access ramps and lifts.
The playing surface has also undergone redesign, with improvements to the drainage system intended to clear water within three minutes.
The project team further reported that natural grass germination stood at approximately 70 per cent, with a hybrid stitching system expected to reinforce the playing surface.
These improvements are critical because international football tournaments demand playing surfaces capable of withstanding intensive match schedules and varying weather conditions.
However, senators insisted that the remaining works must be completed alongside improvements to safety and accessibility.
Disability access becomes a major concern
One of the most significant issues raised during the inspection was whether Kasarani Stadium would adequately accommodate spectators living with disabilities.
Nominated Senator Crystal Asige challenged the project team to demonstrate that accessibility had been incorporated into the facility’s design rather than treated as an afterthought.
She called for permanent infrastructure that would allow persons with disabilities to access the stadium independently and enjoy sporting events without unnecessary difficulties.
The project team told the committee that approximately 1.5 per cent of the stadium’s 60,000 seats had been allocated to persons with disabilities, distributed across the southern, eastern and western sections between gates 5 and 13.
However, the briefing did not provide definitive figures on accessible parking spaces and washrooms.
Asige also sought clarification on the availability of wheelchair-accessible shuttle services, tactile paving, Braille signage, audio descriptions and sign-language interpretation.
She warned against implementing temporary solutions designed merely to satisfy tournament requirements, arguing that public infrastructure should serve everyone long after the competition concludes.
“We don’t want to make something just for today. We want to make it for posterity,” she said.
Her intervention brought into focus a broader question about the country’s approach to sports infrastructure: whether major public investments are being designed to accommodate all citizens, including those with mobility, visual and hearing impairments.
Fire safety concerns put emergency preparedness under scrutiny
The committee also raised concerns about the stadium’s ability to respond to emergencies, particularly fires and incidents involving large crowds.
Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku questioned the preparedness of government agencies responsible for emergency response following revelations by Nairobi City County officials that fire hydrants at the stadium had no water during an earlier inspection.
The revelation raised questions about the effectiveness of firefighting systems at a facility expected to accommodate thousands of spectators during high-profile international matches.
Senators sought explanations on the coordination between the stadium project team, Nairobi City County and the Ministry of Labour’s Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services.
A county representative informed the committee that Nairobi City County had not completed its assessment of the facility.
The committee consequently sought copies of relevant inspection and compliance reports, with the county representative undertaking to follow up with the responsible teams.
Senator Murgor called for stronger coordination among government agencies to ensure that occupational safety, public health and emergency preparedness requirements are addressed before the facility hosts major international events.
The concerns highlight the importance of functional firefighting equipment, accessible emergency exits, crowd-control systems and clearly defined responsibilities among emergency response agencies.
For a tournament of AFCON’s magnitude, a stadium’s preparedness cannot be measured solely by the quality of its playing surface or spectator facilities.
Its ability to protect lives during emergencies is equally important.
Security and crowd management
Beyond construction and safety, the project team also briefed senators on measures intended to improve movement within the stadium.
The proposed access arrangements will separate spectators, players, media personnel and VIPs to strengthen security and reduce congestion during match days.
Such arrangements are particularly important during major international tournaments, when thousands of supporters, officials, journalists and visiting dignitaries converge on sporting facilities.
The stadium’s commercial infrastructure is also being expanded through concession stands on the first and second floors, ground-floor office space and 18 skyboxes.
The project team further highlighted sustainability measures, including waste segregation facilities, energy-saving heat-exchange systems in changing rooms and major washrooms, and the reuse of materials removed during renovation.
Removed seats are expected to be reused in county stadiums undergoing construction, while grass from the main stadium will be relocated to training pitches.
These measures are intended to extend the value of the renovation beyond the immediate needs of AFCON.
CAF standards remain the ultimate test
At the centre of Kenya’s preparations is the requirement to meet the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Category Four stadium standards.
The classification sets demanding requirements covering playing surfaces, drainage, floodlighting, dressing rooms, spectator safety, accessibility, media facilities and match-day operations.
Kasarani, which has a reported seating capacity of 48,000, is among Kenya’s designated tournament venues alongside the 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium, formerly known as Talanta Sports City.
However, the two facilities must undergo the necessary assessments and receive approval before they can be formally cleared to host AFCON matches.
CAF’s initial assessment in February 2026 found that none of the proposed venues across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had met all the required standards.
That assessment prompted further improvement programmes and subsequent inspections across the three host countries.
In September, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi reported encouraging progress following another CAF inspection but cautioned that the findings should not be interpreted as final certification.
The distinction is important because progress on construction does not automatically translate into compliance with every technical and operational requirement.
For Kasarani, the December 31 handover deadline is therefore an important milestone in the wider certification process.
Kenya’s AFCON ambitions face a defining moment
The concerns surrounding Kasarani come as Kenya intensifies preparations for the 2027 continental showpiece alongside its East African neighbours.
The tournament presents an opportunity for the three countries to showcase their sporting infrastructure, tourism potential and capacity to organise major international events.
For Kenya, successful hosting could provide a significant boost to the hospitality industry, transport sector, tourism businesses and local enterprises.
It would also offer local football supporters an opportunity to experience some of Africa’s leading national teams competing on home soil.
But the benefits will depend heavily on whether the country delivers facilities that meet international standards.
The government has been investing in stadium upgrades and new sporting infrastructure, with Kasarani expected to play a central role in Kenya’s hosting arrangements.
The newly developed Raila Odinga International Stadium is another major component of the country’s preparations.
However, the Senate inspection demonstrates that the remaining challenge is not simply completing construction but ensuring that the facilities are safe, accessible, functional and sustainable.
Beyond AFCON: A legacy for Kenyan sports
The Senate’s intervention has also opened a wider conversation about accountability in the management of public sports infrastructure.
Kenya has previously invested in stadium improvements ahead of international competitions, but the long-term value of such projects depends on maintenance, proper management and continued public access.
Kasarani remains an important venue for Kenyan athletics, football and other sporting activities.
Its redevelopment should therefore deliver benefits that extend beyond the 2027 tournament.
The questions raised by senators on disability access, firefighting preparedness and coordination among government agencies are particularly important because they address the everyday needs of sports fans and athletes.
Asige’s call for facilities designed for posterity captures the broader expectation that infrastructure developed using public resources should serve future generations.
The project team has maintained that the December 31 deadline remains achievable, but senators have called for closer monitoring of outstanding works and greater accountability from the responsible agencies.
Ultimately, CAF’s assessment will determine whether the facility meets the requirements for hosting continental matches.
For now, Kenya faces a race against time to turn its hosting ambitions into reality.
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