President William Ruto with Harambee Stars players at State House on August 28, 2025/PCSPresident William Ruto Thursday hosted Harambee Stars for a luncheon at State House, where he praised the national football team for uniting the country in the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Ruto, in a lighthearted moment, quipped that his absence from the stands may have cost the team a place in the finals.
“You didn’t make it to the finals, but you made us proud and brought the nation together. Captain, you remember we had a deal. One of my friends even told me I was responsible for your loss because I wasn’t there. For a moment, I thought maybe he was right. Next time I will always be there so that we can do it together,” Ruto said to laughter.
He said the team’s spirited run had lifted the nation and rekindled pride in Kenyan football, which was returning to the continental stage after decades.
He noted that although Kenya was not fully prepared, hosting a continental competition for the first time in 40 years had been a milestone.
The President also declared that the journey to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host, starts immediately.
“We know AFCON is tougher, but this time we will be ready. We will build the team from the bottom, from every village, every county, and prepare properly,” he said.
Ruto pledged government resources to support football development and urged corporate sponsors to step in.
He announced that he will convene a meeting next week with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the Ministry of Sports, and sponsors to coordinate support for the team in a structured way.
On governance, Ruto expressed confidence in FKF as he urged corporates to trust the current leadership.
The President encouraged Harambee Stars to keep the momentum alive as Kenya sets its sights on AFCON 2027.
“You brought Kenyans together, and for that, we are proud. Now let us prepare to do even better,” he said.
