President William Ruto has said that his government is targeting having the national football team, Harambee Stars, play at the 2030 FIFA World Cup tournament.
In his Jamhuri Day speech on Monday, December 12, the Head of State further said that the government targets to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
President Ruto said that as a step toward achieving Football Vision 2030, the government is at an advanced stage of launching a bottom-up football tournament.
The tournament will be contested by under-19 teams from all 47 Counties across the nation and each county will build a team from the ward level.
"Arrangements are at an advanced stage to launch a Bottom-up football tournament to be contested by under-19 teams from all 47 counties. We will work with our governors for each County to build a team right from the ward level," President Ruto said.
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"This is the first step in our Football Vision 2030 where we target to see Harambee Stars play at the 2030 World Cup and Kenya host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations," he added.
The Head of State said that his government recognized sports and arts as a mega industry that can employ millions of youths and help grow the economy of the country.
"This is why we have moved with speed to get our football back, to protect Kenya’s proud athletics pedigree from doping, and to streamline collection and distribution of royalties to our artists," he added.
Ruto further said that will rebuild and monetize sports and the creative industry through a revolutionary plan dubbed 'Talanta Hela'.