Harambee Stars players who featured at the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) will still own a two-bedroom house under the Affordable Housing Programme despite failing to reach the tournament’s semi-finals.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Thursday, President William Ruto announced that the government will pay for each member of the team Sh1 million while they top up the remaining Sh1 million to own a two-bedroom house in a town of their choice.
The Head of State said a two-bedroom house under the affordable housing scheme costs Sh2 million. He said that players who cannot afford to pay the Sh1 million by themselves will be enrolled in a 20-year mortgage plan.
Under the plan, such players will be required to pay between Sh2,000 and Sh3,000 a month.
President Ruto had promised reward each member of the team with Sh1 million and a two-bedroom house if they win their quarter-final match. Kenya exited the competition at the quarter-finals stage after losing 4-3 to Madagascar in post-match penalties at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Friday last week. The two teams had drawn 1-1 at the end of regular and extra time.
“The two-bedroom house that we had agreed on under our current arrangement in Affordable Housing Programme costs Sh2 million. We are going to pay for you half of that amount, which is Sh1 million, and you pay the other Sh1 million,” President Ruto said when he hosted the team to a luncheon at State House.
“Probably we will give you a mortgage you can pay over 20 years. You are going to pay something like Sh2,000 or Sh3,000, so it is affordable,” added the Head of State, stressing that the players will not have the option of exchanging the offer of a house with money.
The offer of Sh1 million down payment for the two-bedroom housing is in addition to the Sh5 million that President Ruto awarded each member of the team for their impressive performance in the group stage of the tournament.
For every victory, the Head of State promised to reward each member of Harambee Stars squad with Sh1 million, while a draw earned them Sh500,000. Ahead of Kenya’s final Group ‘A’ match against Zambia, the Head of State raised the stakes by promising each member of the team Sh2.5 million if they win the match.
They stunned the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 before battling to a 1-1 draw with Angola. Harambee Stars then edged giants Morocco 1-0 before capping that impressive group-stage campaign with another narrow 1-0 victory over Zambia.
“We are all immensely proud of the performance of our Harambee Stars in this year’s Chan tournament. Before the competition began, few believed we would progress beyond the group stages. We were drawn into what many called the “group of death”, alongside Chan giants like Morocco and DR Congo —
nations that between them have lifted the trophy four times,” he said.
“Yet, against all odds, our team topped the group. This remarkable achievement has reminded us that when Kenyans play with heart, discipline, and unity, there is no obstacle too great to overcome. As we now set our sights on Afcon 2027, we must draw on the resilience and belief that carried us this far to prove once again that Kenya can stand tall among the very best in Africa and the world,” added the President.
