As Kenya gears up to co-host its largest football tournament yet, the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a cloud of controversy looms over the ticketing process for the opening match in Nairobi. Despite a sold-out announcement early in the week, local fans and sports journalists are raising questions about the true availability of tickets to Kenya’s first game against the Democratic Republic of Congo this Sunday at the 48,000-seat Kasarani Stadium.

According to Nicholas Musonye, head of the local organizing committee, the early sell-out is due to an “overwhelmingly eager” fan base. However, this official narrative is being challenged by die-hard supporters and media, some of whom claim they haven’t found a single fan who managed to purchase a ticket.

Amid Kenya’s year-long wave of anti-government protests fueled by economic hardship and allegations of police brutality, speculation is growing that the government may be trying to preempt another round of politically charged chants in the stands. Slogans like “Ruto Must Go” and “Wantam” (slang for “one term”) have become rallying cries among the youth, particularly Gen Z protesters.

Independent media outlet PropesaTV alleged on social media that the government has acquired more than half the tickets for Sunday’s clash, distributing them selectively to known government supporters, many of whom will be bused in from Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood — an area with lower protest activity compared to others.

An anonymous local resident corroborated claims of organized ticket distribution, describing scenes of large groups being registered by local officials in exchange for tickets. Meanwhile, the official youth leadership of President William Ruto’s party denied knowledge of any such actions, reiterating that tickets were made available online — despite repeated user claims of unavailability.

Interestingly, tickets for CHAN matches in co-host nations Tanzania and Uganda have remained accessible, fueling further questions about the motives behind the Nairobi ticket bottleneck.

While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is officially responsible for ticketing, it has not issued a statement on the matter. Last week, Musonye acknowledged before parliament that the current political unrest could pose a risk to the successful hosting of the tournament, hinting at concerns beyond just sports.

As the tournament kicks off, Kenya finds itself at the intersection of football, politics, and public trust — with the beautiful game now playing out on a far more complicated field.