Harambee Stars, under the tutelage of South African coach Benni McCarthy, made a flying start to the tournament following a 1-0 victory against two-time CHAN champions DR Congo in their Group A opener. The winning moment came from midfielder Austin Odhiambo, whose clinical strike sealed not just three points, but Kenya’s first-ever win at the tournament.
Kenya came up against Angola in their matchday two fixture, and once again, they looked to Odhiambo for inspiration. Playing with 10 men after midfielder Marvin Nabwire had been sent off, Kenya fell behind early but showed remarkable character to equalise courtesy of Odhiambo.
Their third game was against another two-time CHAN champions, Morocco, and they had to navigate most of the second half with 10 men after Chrispine Erambo was sent off. Ryan Ogam scored to seal a 1-0 victory and confirm Kenya’s place in the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
However, Kenya’s journey ended in the last eight in dramatic fashion. Kenya came up against Madagascar, and after taking the lead courtesy of Alphonce Omija, Madagascar levelled matters from the penalty spot, forcing the game into extra time. After a tense 1-1 stalemate, Kenya lost the game 4-3 on penalties to exit the stage.
Harambee Stars players receive houses from Ruto
Speaking during the ceremony, the Head of State pledged to ease the housing journey for Harambee Stars players by offering each of them a KSh 1 million grant to cover half the cost of a two-bedroom affordable house.
“To motivate and support them further, my government has committed to meet half the cost of two-bedroom units under the Affordable Housing Programme and extend access to affordable mortgages to help our athletes offset the balance,” said Ruto.
Ruto added: “The two-bedroom house that we have agreed on in affordable housing costs KSh2 million. We are going to pay you half that amount, which is KSh1 million. Alternatively, we will be giving you a mortgage which you can pay for over 20 years, and that would translate to a payment of KSh2,000 or KSh3,000 every month.
“There is no room for exchanging the house for money. There is only the house, and you will get a chance to choose a house in a town of your choice, be it Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, or wherever you want.”
Celebrations more than a tribute
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) issued a statement to congratulate the President for his gesture and further explained what the visit to State House by Harambee Stars players meant to football in the country.
“This celebration was more than a tribute to the team’s discipline and resilience - it was also a platform to chart the future of Kenyan football. CHAN has clearly shown the power and potential of football in Kenya,” read part of the statement.
“We now call upon our corporate partners and stakeholders to walk with us in this journey of transformation by investing in the game and unlocking the opportunities it holds for millions of Kenyans.”
Kenya have shifted focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Harambee Stars will host the Gambia on September 5th, and Seychelles on September 9th, both matches at Kasarani Stadium.
Harambee Stars are currently sitting fourth in Group F with six points from six matches. They have managed one win, three draws and two defeats. Ivory Coast are topping the pile with 16 points, while second-placed have amassed 15 points, and third-placed Burundi have 10 points.
