The Harambee Stars are reportedly unhappy following President William Ruto’s decision to change the nature of the promised rewards for their CHAN 2024 heroics. The national team, who impressed by reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament, feel short-changed after the Head of State adjusted his earlier commitments.
On Thursday, the team was hosted at State House where the President announced that each player would be given a two-bedroom house under the affordable housing scheme. However, the announcement came with conditions that caught the players by surprise. The units, valued at Ksh2 million, would not be handed over fully for free. Instead, the government would cover half the cost, leaving each player to pay Ksh1 million over a set period.
The condition has reportedly left many squad members dissatisfied as they had expected a straightforward cash reward. According to earlier pronouncements before the tournament, the President had pledged that players would earn Ksh1 million for every group-stage win and Ksh500,000 for a draw. Furthermore, he stated that should the team progress to the quarter-finals, Ksh60 million would be shared among them, while semi-final qualification would bring Ksh70 million. Winning the entire competition was said to come with a bumper reward of Ksh600 million.
During the group stage, the Harambee Stars indeed received significant incentives. They collected Ksh2.5 million for victories over DR Congo and Morocco as well as for a draw against Angola. The President also added an extra incentive of Ksh2.5 million each for their crucial win against Zambia, which secured them top spot in their group. Expectations were therefore high that the team would also pocket the promised Ksh60 million for making it into the last eight.
Instead, the reward shifted into the form of subsidised housing, with no direct cash bonus for the quarter-final milestone. The President clarified that the only free item from the State House event was the lunch they were served, insisting that the houses could not be exchanged for money.
The development has sparked murmurs of discontent among players, who feel that the promise of monetary rewards was not honoured. Many within the team believe that given their performance, the government should have stayed true to its original pledge of financial bonuses rather than altering the deal.
