Kenya has announced it will scrap visa fees for football fans, media teams, and other individuals travelling for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in a move aimed at easing movement across co-hosting nations.

The announcement was made by Nicholas Musonye, chair of Kenya's Local Organising Committee (LOC), shortly after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) concluded its final inspection visit in Nairobi on Saturday.

He said the visa waiver will apply to all travellers attending the tournaments, allowing seamless access between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

"Kenya has waived visa fees. People coming to watch CHAN or AFCON will not pay for a visa. They can move freely between Kenya, Uganda, and soon Tanzania, as long as they are here for football," Musonye said.

Uganda has already rolled out a similar visa waiver, while Tanzania is expected to follow soon.

The decision is part of efforts by the three East African nations to promote unity, boost tourism, and ensure smooth logistics as they prepare to jointly host two of Africa's top football tournaments.

Despite the visa exemptions, Musonye underlined that security measures would remain strict, and only accredited visitors would be allowed entry.

"We cannot open our borders to everyone without scrutiny. Our security forces will remain vigilant. Even if you're coming from Congo, Egypt, Uganda or elsewhere, you must show documentation proving you're here for the competition. Security remains a top priority," said Musonye.

Kenya has also named a provisional 30-man squad for the upcoming CHAN tournament, set to kick off on August 2. The competition, limited to players active in their domestic leagues, will be hosted across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

With Kenya playing its group matches at home, head coach Benni McCarthy has assembled a blend of experienced players and emerging talent ready to represent the country on the continental stage.

Kenya is in Group A, alongside DR Congo, Angola and Morocco. The national team, Harambee Stars, will begin its campaign against DR Congo on Sunday, August 3, at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.

They will then take on Angola on Wednesday, August 6, before wrapping up the group phase against Morocco on Saturday, August 9, under the floodlights at 6pm.

The CHAN tournament’s opening game will take place on August 2 in Dar es Salaam, where hosts Tanzania will face Burkina Faso.

Other group matches are scheduled to be played in Kampala and Zanzibar as part of the regional co-hosting plan.