- President William Ruto has fulfilled his promise by disbursing a total of KSh42 million to Harambee Stars as a bonus for their victory against DR Congo on sunday.
- Each of the 27 players and 15 technical bench members received KSh1 million.
- Kenya will face Angola in their second match on Thursday, August 7, at Kasarani Stadium.
Kenya’s national men’s football team, Harambee Stars, has received their promised winning bonuses following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
The team began their Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 campaign on a strong footing after securing a narrow win thanks to a brilliant goal by Austin Odhiambo at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
In recognition of the victory, the government through State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed has confirmed just 24 hours after the triumph that the pledged bonus had been disbursed.
President William Ruto had promised a reward of KSh1 million to each player for every win, and true to his word, the funds were delivered on Monday.
The total bonus package of KSh 42 million was distributed among 27 Harambee Stars players and 15 members of the technical bench.
President William Ruto has fulfilled his commitment to pay KSh1 million each to all 27 Harambee Stars players and 15 members of the technical bench, a total of KSh42 million, following the national team’s 1-0 win over the DRC on Sunday.
Sports ministry officials led by Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya delivered the funds, and a similar reward awaits the team after Thursday’s game against Angola,” Mohamed posted on his social media platforms.
ALSO READ: CHAN 2024: Harambee Stars make history against DR Congo as Austin Odhiambo shines
This initiative serves as a motivational drive for the national side, making their debut in the continental tournament, which exclusively features locally-based talent.
Kenya, co-hosting CHAN 2024 alongside Uganda and Tanzania, is staging the group A matches.
They have been drawn in a challenging pool alongside two-time champions DR Congo, Angola, Zambia, and Morocco also two-time winners of the tournament.
Sunday’s win earned Kenya three crucial points, placing them second in their group behind Morocco, who top the table on goal difference after defeating Angola 2-0 on the same day.
The Harambee Stars now eye another KSh42 million payout bonus, with each member poised to receive KSh1 million, should they defeat Angola in their next match, scheduled for Thursday, August 7, at 7:00 PM at the Kasarani Stadium.
A win would significantly bolster their chances of progressing to the knockout stages and bring the individual total bonus to KSh2 million.
Additional bonuses promised by President Ruto
In addition to the win bonuses, President Ruto has also pledged:
- KSh500,000 to each team member for every draw achieved during CHAN 2024.
- A massive KSh600 million reward if the team emerges tournament champions.
- KSh70 million for reaching the semi-finals, and KSh60 million for a quarter-final finish.
Benni McCarthy on Ruto’s CHAN 2024 bonus Pledge
Reacting to President Ruto’s incentive for the national team, head coach Benni McCarthy praised the move as transformative not just for the players, but for the future of local football.
“This is a fantastic initiative that will not only inspire many locally based players but also give them an opportunity to earn a significant income something that’s rare in domestic football,” McCarthy said.
“It all comes down to winning matches. When you win, you get rewarded. I think President Ruto made a brilliant move by stepping in to motivate the players with such generous bonuses.”
ALSO READ: CHAN 2024: DR Congo boss reveals key lapses behind loss to Kenya
“On the flip side, this can be life-changing for many of these athletes. Most of them don’t have access to high-paying contracts, so a reward of this magnitude can make a real difference.”
“Personally, I believe if you perform well on the pitch, everything else falls into place. So our focus is to win as many games as possible. After that, we can collect our rewards one step at a time. But first, we must deliver results.”
Harambee Stars – CHAN 2024 final squad
Goalkeepers
Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Sebastian Wekesa
Defenders
Siraj Mohammed, Manzur Suleiman, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Mike Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, Lewis Bandi, Kevin Okumu
Midfielders
Crispine Erambo, Brian Michira, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire
Forwards
Edward Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, David Sakwa, Ryan Ogam, Masoud Juma, Austin Odongo, Felix Oluoch
CHAN 2024 – Harambee Stars fixtures (All matches at Kasarani Stadium)
Results
Kenya 1-0 DR Congo – Sunday, August 3 | 3:00 PM
Upcoming fixtures
- Angola vs Kenya – Thursday, August 7 | 7:00 PM
- Kenya vs Morocco – Sunday, August 10 | 3:00 PM
- Zambia vs Kenya – Sunday, August 17 | 3:00 PM