President Ruto promises Harambee Stars winger military promotion
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 11.08.25. | 20:51
President Ruto has visited the team several times to encourage them and promise financial incentives, including Ksh1 million for each player for every win registered in the tournament
Following numerous pleas from Harambee Stars captain Abud Omar, President William Ruto has finally promised promotion of Ulinzi Stars winger Boniface Muchiri in the military as part of the reward package.
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Muchiri is one of the 25-man squad of Harambee Stars players representing Kenya at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Kenya is competing in the tournament by virtue of being one of the co-hosts alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania in what has been dubbed as "Pamoja CHAN".
President Ruto has visited the team several times to encourage them and promise financial incentives, including Ksh1 million for each player for every win registered in the tournament.
On his first visit to the team on Wednesday, 16 July, captain Abud Omar, in a video that went viral, requested the president to promote Muchiri, who is serving in the Kenya Army in the rank of Private.
The President, who was accompanied by Defense Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, in whose ministry the military lies, did not commit himself, only saying that he had heard the request.
In his visit on Monday, 11 August, the Head of State, while greeting the team, all but gave a promotion assurance to Muchiri.
“We mtu wangu, ile maneno mimi ninapanga. Usijali. (My friend, I am organising that deal. Do not worry),” said President Ruto.
Should Muchiri be promoted, he will hold the rank of a Lance Corporal, a position that leads up to four officers.
The President was visiting the team following their remarkable 1-0 victory over Morocco on Sunday, 10 August, in a match played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The win firmed Kenya's grip on top of Group A, where they have seven points, three better than second-placed Angola, with Morocco, who have played a match less, coming in at third with three points.
In his visit, Ruto delivered the Ksh1 million winning bonus from the Morocco match and promised Ksh2.5 million for each member of the team, including the staff, should Kenya win against Zambia on Sunday, 10 August.
