CHAN 2024: Why President Ruto Will Give Harambee Stars Players Ksh2.5 Million Should They Beat Zambia

Ruto has been awarding Harambee Stars players 1 million shillings each for a win and Ksh 500,000 for a draw, but has increased his incentive for Harambee Stars’ last match against Zambia.

The Harambee Stars’ fairytale run at CHAN 2024 is not only winning them matches—it’s winning them presidential rewards. 

President William Ruto has promised to give each player Ksh2.5 million if they secure victory against Zambia in their final Group A game.

The pledge came on Monday, August 11, when the Head of State met the team at the Pullman Hotel in Upper Hill, Nairobi.

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 The meeting followed Kenya’s memorable 1-0 triumph over Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani—a result that has sent a surge of belief across the nation.

From Ksh1 Million to Ksh2.5 Million: Raising the Stakes

President Ruto reaffirmed his earlier promise of Ksh1 million for every group game win but sweetened the deal for the Zambia clash with a hefty bump to Ksh2.5 million per player.

The incentives don’t stop there. The president also vowed to award each player Ksh1 million plus an affordable housing unit should they secure a quarter-final victory.

“The Harambee Stars are proof of what unity can achieve. They have brought the country together, and we are all witnessing the success it is bringing to the nation. We stand behind you, praying that this time we win CHAN because it’s within close reach,” said Ruto.

Housing Dreams and Historic Runs

Following Kenya’s earlier 1-0 win against the Democratic Republic of Congo, the players—led by goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo—urged the president to “remember them” in the government’s affordable housing scheme. Ruto responded by promising to make arrangements to secure the players access to those housing units.

Against all odds, Kenya have turned a “group of death” into a stage for history. 

Co-hosting the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania, the Harambee Stars opened with a win over DRC, fought for a draw against Angola, and then produced their most impressive performance yet—beating Africa’s top-ranked team, Morocco, despite playing much of the game with 10 men. 

Ryan Wesley Ogam’s decisive strike sealed the victory and ignited nationwide celebrations.

So far, from the first three matches alone, the players have each earned Ksh2.5 million under the president’s original incentive plan.

With seven points from three games, Kenya sit top of Group A and have all but booked their quarter-final spot. Morocco and Angola still have slim mathematical chances to overtake them, but it would require unlikely results elsewhere.

And while nothing is official yet, there’s even the tantalising prospect of an East African derby in the quarters—Kenya versus Tanzania—after the Taifa Stars topped Group B with a perfect record.