The Kenyan government has officially disbursed Ksh42 million to the Harambee Stars following their impressive 1-0 win against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their opening match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which took place on Sunday, August 3.
Earlier, President William Ruto had pledged to reward each player with Ksh1 million for every match they win during the tournament.
However, there had been some confusion and speculation among fans and media about how many individuals would benefit from the president’s promise, considering the national team’s squad includes 27 players.
That uncertainty was finally cleared up on Monday, August 4, when State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed announced that the full amount had been released.
In a detailed statement, he confirmed that all 27 Harambee Stars players, including the substitutes and reserve players, would each receive Ksh1 million.
Additionally, 15 members of the technical bench would also be rewarded the same amount, bringing the total payout to Ksh42 million.
“President William Ruto has kept his word by issuing Ksh1 million to each of the 27 Harambee Stars players, along with 15 technical team members, as a reward for their 1-0 win over the DRC on Sunday,” read part of Mohammed’s statement.
Hussein Mohammed also emphasized that this reward system will continue throughout the tournament. If the team secures another win in their upcoming match against Angola on Thursday, August 7, they will receive an additional payout.
The Harambee Stars’ win was sealed by Gor Mahia star midfielder Austine Odhiambo, who netted a brilliant solo goal just before half-time. His strike, which found the bottom right corner, was the highlight of the match and proved to be the winning goal.
The atmosphere at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, played a major role in boosting the morale of the players. Thousands of passionate Kenyan fans turned up to cheer for the national team, creating a vibrant and supportive environment that slightly tipped the odds in Kenya’s favor.
Incentives for players have become a growing trend among the host nations of the 2024 CHAN tournament. Like Kenya, both co-hosts Tanzania and Uganda have rolled out generous reward packages for their national teams.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government promised the Cranes a staggering Ksh301 million if they go on to win the championship, while Tanzania offered its players Ksh51 million for winning the tournament.
However, among the three host nations, Kenya has put forward the most substantial reward. President Ruto has promised to award a total of Ksh600 million to the Harambee Stars if they manage to bring the CHAN trophy home.
Kenya’s win over DRC gives them a solid footing in the group stage, and their destiny is now entirely in their hands. With one victory already under their belt, the Harambee Stars will now focus on their next challenge—facing Angola on Thursday.
After that, they are set to face one of the tournament’s toughest opponents, Morocco, on Sunday, August 10. They will conclude their group stage fixtures with a match against Zambia on August 17.
As expectations rise and the competition intensifies, the Harambee Stars have a golden opportunity to make history—both by advancing deep into the tournament and by claiming the generous financial rewards promised by the government.
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