Nairobi, Kenya – As Kenya gears up for its biggest football hosting event in history, a growing number of local fans are raising questions over the unavailability of tickets for the opening CHAN 2024 match—fueling suspicion that the government is curating the crowd to control political dissent.
The country is set to co-host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) alongside Uganda and Tanzania, with Kenya’s Harambee Stars facing DR Congo this Sunday at the 48,000-seat Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.
But while excitement for the tournament is high, fans say they’ve been unable to secure tickets for the match—sparking confusion and accusations of political interference.
“Sold Out?” Fans Aren’t Convinced
Nicholas Musonye, head of Kenya’s Local Organising Committee, claimed the match tickets were quickly snapped up due to overwhelming demand. But this narrative doesn’t sit well with many.
“We haven’t come across a single supporter who managed to purchase a ticket,” a Nairobi-based sports journalist told AFP under anonymity, citing fears of government backlash. “It feels orchestrated.”
Government Accused of ‘Crowd Control’
Multiple reports circulating on social media allege that President William Ruto’s administration purchased large blocks of tickets and redistributed them to loyal supporters—possibly to avoid being embarrassed by anti-government chants like “Ruto Must Go” and “Wantam,” which gained traction during months of Gen Z-led protests.
In March, during Kenya’s home game against Gabon, loud anti-government slogans rang through the stadium.
That incident, still widely shared online, is said to have made the government wary of another public display of discontent.
Officials Deny Claims, Tickets Still Unavailable
Youth leader Kariuki Ngunjiri, a vocal supporter of the president, dismissed the accusations, saying: “Tickets are available online. We’re encouraging Kenyans to turn out in large numbers.”
However, AFP’s independent checks confirmed that tickets were unavailable as of Monday evening and remained so through the week.
Meanwhile, CHAN tournament tickets for Tanzania’s opening match against Burkina Faso on Saturday were still accessible—highlighting the stark difference in transparency between the co-hosting nations.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohamed distanced himself from the issue, noting that ticketing is under the jurisdiction of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has yet to comment.
In a recent address to Parliament, Musonye warned that ongoing Gen Z protests in Kenya had been flagged as a possible threat to the safe execution of the tournament.
