High Court Halts Sh220 Million Payment for 2018 CHAN Contract

The High Court in Nairobi has issued a temporary injunction blocking the Ministry of Sports and its agents from disbursing or acting on a contentious Sh220 million contract tied to the 2018 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) preparations. The ruling, delivered by Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna at the Milimani Anticorruption Court, stems from a case brought by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) against Kirimi Peter Kaberia, John Ruga, and five other respondents.

Justice Njuguna's order prohibits Gregori International, the contracted company, and the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Sports from making payments or advancing the contract's implementation for 14 days. The court has scheduled the case for mention on August 12, 2025, before a Duty Judge to provide further directions, with respondents directed to be served with the application.

The EACC filed the case on July 30, 2025, seeking urgent orders to halt the contract's execution, citing significant irregularities and potential corruption. The contract, valued at Sh1 billion and signed on September 14, 2017, under Tender No. MOSCA/CHAN/002/2017-2018, covered extensive preparatory work for the 2018 CHAN tournament. This included designing, mobilizing, removing grass, installing irrigation systems, leveling grounds, preparing soil, fertilizing, and planting Bermuda or Paspalum grass, as well as supplying sports equipment for five stadia and ten training centers across Kenya.

The 2018 CHAN tournament was initially set to be hosted by Kenya but was relocated to Morocco due to delays and concerns over inadequate preparations. The EACC, through an affidavit by lawyer Evans Rono, argued that allowing payments to proceed before a full hearing could result in the loss of public funds. The agency alleges that the tender process breached the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, and the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

This legal action marks another chapter in the ongoing controversies surrounding Kenya's preparations for the 2018 CHAN, which have been plagued by accusations of corruption, inflated contracts, and lack of accountability. The court's temporary orders freeze all financial transactions related to the project pending a deeper examination of the EACC's claims. As the case progresses, it underscores the broader challenges of ensuring transparency and integrity in public procurement processes for major sporting events in Kenya.