NAIROBI, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya said on Friday that it has heightened security with the Group A matches of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 set to start on Sunday in the co-hosting country.
Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, assured Kenyans and visitors of adequate security during the championship.
Murkomen said the government has implemented immigration arrangements to ensure seamless travel into the country and transit to neighboring countries, Uganda and Tanzania.
"We are this weekend going to host CHAN, which will help us in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027. This is a historic moment for Kenya," he said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
The government has also put in place safety protocols to ensure the safety, security, and ease of movement for all, Murkomen added.
Unlike AFCON, only players actively competing in their domestic leagues are eligible to participate in CHAN, which provides a platform for locally based players to attract the attention of international scouts.
The CHAN 2024 tournament will be held across three countries -- Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda -- from Aug. 2 to 30, with the competition opener to take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday.
The final is scheduled for Moi International Sports Center, also referred to as Kasarani Stadium, in Nairobi on Aug. 30, after the third-place showdown concludes in Uganda's Mandela National Stadium.
