Presidents Ruto, Motsepe expected to grace CHAN draw at KICC

Kenyan President William Ruto and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe are among the dignitaries expected to attend the draw of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) on Wednesday night at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The eighth edition of the continental championship featuring national teams consisting of players currently playing in their respective local leagues will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 1- 28 next month.
The draw will be conducted by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president and former Kenyan international MacDonald Mariga accompanied by Tanzanian all top-scorer Mrisho Ngasa and Ugandan football stalwart Hassan Wasswah.
Nineteen teams will be grouped at the ceremony which kicks off at 8pm.
On Tuesday, Sports Principal Secretary Engineer Peter Tum, CHAN Local Organizing Committee Chair Nicholas Musonye and CAF head of security Christian Emerua assured the public that everything is in place ready for the ceremony.
“I have spoken to the sports ministers from Tanzania and Uganda, and they will be here with their teams this afternoon. I can say we are prepared to hist the draw,” said Tum after inspecting KICC and convening with the security officials.
“This is an important, key and historical event that the country is hosting and we must ensure everything goes right,” he added.
Musonye noted that the event will mark the official kick-off of CHAN in East Africa.
“This will be a benchmark for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and its success will show that we will also be ready to host the whole continent in two-years’ time,” said Musonye as he confirmed that the arrangements for the event comply with CAF standards.
Emerua on the other hand emphasized the importance of robust security measures ahead of the show.
“The meetings have been serious and the police service and other security agencies have really supported and cooperated with us. We advise people that access to this place will only be by invitation and without that you should not come to KICC tomorrow,” he said.