Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto has rallied the Harambee Stars to pursue championship glory as they prepare for their historic debut at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
The President made a surprise visit to the team’s training camp at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani Annex on Wednesday evening, where the squad was concluding its first week of residential training.
During his visit, President Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s full support for the team, promising all necessary resources to help them excel.
Kenya is co-hosting the biennial continental tournament for the first time, alongside regional neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.
“As a nation, we are proud to be hosting this prestigious tournament. It’s a historic moment for Kenya,” said Ruto.
“When I made the decision to bid for both CHAN and AFCON, it was because I believed in our capacity to deliver.”
Speaking directly to the players, he emphasized the magnitude of their role:
“You are representing over 50 million Kenyans. That’s a huge responsibility.
“I came here to personally tell you that we believe in your potential. We are behind you all the way, and we will be cheering you on to victory.
“Let’s make history—if we’re hosting this for the first time, we must aim to win it.”
With less than three weeks to the tournament’s kickoff, the President also affirmed Kenya’s readiness to welcome the rest of the continent.
Head coach Benni McCarthy expressed gratitude for the visit, saying:
“It’s a great honour to have you here, Mr. President, especially with your busy schedule. We are motivated and will give our all to make Kenya proud.”
The Harambee Stars will now intensify their preparations ahead of a four-nation pre-CHAN tournament in Arusha, Tanzania. The event—featuring fellow co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania, along with Congo Brazzaville—kicks off on 21 July.
Coach McCarthy has already adjusted his squad, ruling out forwards Moses Shummah and Emmanuel Osoro after both players signed professional contracts with Zambia’s Power Dynamos, making them ineligible for CHAN.
To strengthen the team, midfielder Marvin Nabwire (Police FC) and goalkeeper Byrne Omondi (Bandari FC) have been called up.
Kenya has been drawn into a challenging Group A, where they will face two-time champions Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia.
