Kenya Eliminates Visa Fees for CHAN and AFCON Visitors to Enhance Regional Connectivity
In a move to promote regional integration and football tourism, Kenya has introduced visa-free entry for fans, media, and stakeholders attending the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This initiative aligns with a broader East African effort to facilitate seamless cross-border travel during these major tournaments.
Uganda has already implemented a similar visa waiver, and Tanzania is expected to follow soon.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars, making their CHAN debut with locally based players, are placed in Group A alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Angola. They will kick off their campaign against DR Congo on August 3 at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, with Nyayo Stadium also hosting several matches.
Nicholas Musonye, chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), announced the visa waiver during a press conference in Nairobi following the final Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspection.
“Fans attending CHAN or AFCON won’t need to pay visa fees and can travel freely across Kenya, Uganda, and soon Tanzania for football purposes,” Musonye stated.
He emphasized that security remains paramount, with visitors required to present documentation proving their purpose to ensure thorough vetting.
Musonye also addressed concerns about Kenya’s readiness, noting that venues are now 98 percent prepared after earlier doubts during CAF inspections in January, March, and May.
“Our facilities are among the best on the continent, and we’re set to host a successful CHAN and lay the foundation for a historic 2027 AFCON,” he said.
The 2024 CHAN, postponed from February to August for final preparations, will serve as a test event for the AFCON, which Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host, marking East Africa’s return to hosting a major continental tournament.
