President Ruto Visits Harambee Stars ahead of CHAN, Makes Hefty Cash Promises

President William Ruto has called on the Harambee Stars team ahead of the 2024 CHAN tournament. 

The team will be taking on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the opener slated for Sunday, August 3, at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi. 

He had a session with the players and made lofty cash prizes to fire the team up to victory.

"I want us to make a deal. For every game you win, every player gets Ksh 1 million. For every game you draw, every player gets Ksh 500,000. We had agreed that the team would get Ksh 200 million for making it to the finals. But I make it Ksh 600,000 if you make it to the finals. I have multiplied everything for everyone to play their part," the president said. 

Each stage throughout the Harambee Stars' campaign will attract a prize, the president promised.

Upon making it to the quarters, the team will get Ksh 60 million.

At the semis, the team will get Ksh 70 million and Ksh 90 million for the finals.

Kenya is co-hosting the tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

It officially starts on Saturday, August 2, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where Tanzania's Taifa Stars will take on Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently released gate access and ticket verification guidelines for the tournament.

In Kenya, the championship will feature Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani Stadium as key venues, with thousands of fans expected to attend.

At Nyayo National Stadium, there will be four gates in operation.

Gates 1 and 2 will be accessible via Uhuru Highway, with ticket verification conducted at Bunyala, Lusaka, T-Mall, and Mombasa Road.

Gate 3 will serve fans arriving via Lang’ata Road (Posta side) and will also use the same verification points.

Gate 4 is reserved exclusively for VIP and VVIP ticket holders and is accessible through Douglas Wakiihuri Road (Aerodrome Drive), with ticket verification taking place after the gate entrance.

All gates apart from Gate 4 will serve Regular and Silver ticket holders.

At Kasarani Stadium, another four gates will be in use.

Gates 1 and 2 will admit fans approaching from TRM, Mwiki, Ngomongo, and the Safari Park Footbridge.

Entry will be granted via Entries 1 to 4, with verification points stationed at TRM Interchange, the entry point opposite Safari Park Hotel, Ngomongo Police Station, and Kasarani Gate 11.

Gate 3 will also use Entry 4 via the Safari Park Footbridge and share verification locations with Gates 1 and 2.

Gate 4 is strictly reserved for presidential, VVIP, media, and other accredited personnel, with entry limited to the Safari Park Footbridge and ticket checks conducted directly at the gate.

Gates 1 to 3 will cater to Regular and Silver ticket holders.