MISSING CHAN TICKETS SPARK OUTCRY AMID CLAIMS OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

As Kenya gears up for its largest football hosting assignment in history, local fans have raised alarm over the unavailability of tickets for Sunday’s highly anticipated CHAN 2024 match between Kenya and DR Congo at the Kasarani Stadium.

Despite the 48,000-capacity stadium, fans say they’ve been unable to secure tickets since Monday evening. Organisers, led by Nicholas Musonye of the local committee, attribute the shortage to an overly enthusiastic fanbase. However, some Kenyans remain unconvinced, accusing the government of hoarding tickets to fill the stadium with loyalists and drown out anti-government chants.

A sports journalist who spoke anonymously claimed no genuine fans have been able to purchase tickets. He alleged that the government bought out a large portion of the tickets to prevent chants such as “Ruto Must Go” and “Wantam” from dominating the event.

In previous matches, such chants echoed loudly through stadiums and have since circulated widely online. Some observers now believe the state is deliberately distributing tickets to supporters unlikely to protest. PropesaTV, a digital platform known for its critical stance on the administration, claimed more than half the tickets for Sunday’s match were acquired by the government and handed to select groups, including youth from areas like Kibera.

Local youth leaders allied to the ruling party denied any involvement, maintaining that tickets were sold online. But AFP reporters said they were unable to find any available tickets.

Meanwhile, tickets for Saturday’s opening match in Tanzania were still accessible. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), which oversees ticketing, has yet to respond to the growing public concern.