President William Ruto has challenged Harambee Stars to build on their good run at the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) so as to establish a formidable team for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
The Head of State directed Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and the Ministry of Sports to immediately start building a formidable Harambee Stars squad for the tournament.
Similar to the 2024 Chan tournament which concludes tomorrow in Nairobi, Kenya will co-host the 2027 Afcon with Uganda and Tanzania.
“As we set our sights on 2027 Afcon, 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,” President Ruto said yesterday when he hosted the team to a luncheon at State House, Nairobi.
“The process of raising our team for 2027 Afcon begins today (Thursday). I have agreed with FKF that that process is going to start from the grassroots. Mr president (Hussein Mohammed), you have my instruction and matching orders working with the Ministry (of Sports) for you to get for us a solid, professional team that will make us win Afcon in 2027,” the Head of State added.
He spoke at State House in Nairobi when he hosted the Harambee Stars squad that featured at the Chan tournament.
President William Ruto poses for a group photos with Harambee Stars team when he hosted them and other athletes for a celebratory lunch at State House, Nairobi.
Photo credit: PCS
Making their first appearance at the showpiece, which is exclusively reserved for players featuring in their respective domestic leagues, Kenya made history by reaching the quarter-finals.
Harambee Stars, under the tutelage of South African football legend Benni McCarthy, exited the tournament after a heartbreaking 4-3 quarter-finals loss to Madagascar in post-match penalties at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani last Friday. The two teams drew 1-1 at the end of regular and extra-time.
Against the odds, Kenya topped Group “A” 10 points after stunning heavyweights Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia 1-0 each. Harambee Stars drew 1-1 with Angola.
Remarkably, Stars played over an hour with 10 men against both Morocco and Angola following red cards on midfielders Marvine Nabwire and Chrispine Erambo.
Kenyan players watch the penalty shootout in the 2024 African Nations Championship quarter final match during against Madagascar at Moi Internationals Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
President Ruto praised Harambee Stars for their strong performances in the tournament, noting that it demonstrated what Kenyan teams and athletes can achieve when the nation rallies behind them.
“This remarkable achievement has reminded us that when Kenyans play with heart, discipline, and unity, there is no obstacle too great to overcome,” said President Ruto.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we now know and deeply appreciate the power of unity when we rally behind our sportsmen and women. The passion, pride, and motivation we gave our Harambee Stars during this Chan competition demonstrated what is possible when a nation stands together,” he added.
The Head of State stated that the building of a strong Harambee Stars squad for the 2027 Afcon will start at the grassroots, and urged corporates to come on board. With still over one year remaining before the tournament’s starts, Ruto said there is enough time for Harambee Stars to be adequately prepared.
“Because we were hosting continental tournament for the first time in 40 years, it is understandable that we may not have been as ready as we should have been,” said President Ruto.
“But now that we have time, we must prepare for Afcon properly. We know Afcon is much more difficult but we will be much more prepared this time around that is why I have said we begin the journey to Afcon 2027 today,” he added.
President Ruto said that he will pump public funds in the initiative and asked the private sector to come onboard.
The afternoon ceremony was also attended by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, FKF president Hussein Mohammed, and several local club officials.
