State House, July 14, 2026 –President William Ruto on Tuesday flagged off the Harambee Junior Starlets and Harambee Starlets at State House, Nairobi, as they prepare to represent Kenya at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Junior Starlets secured back-to-back qualification after beating South Africa 3-1 in the final round, played before a record crowd at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday. It is the largest attendance ever recorded for a women’s match in Kenya.
The Senior Starlets also booked their place at WAFCON 2026, marking another milestone for women’s football in the country.
Dr Ruto pledged a performance-based bonuses for the Junior Starlets throughout the World Cup campaign, from the group stages onwards.
“This administration will ensure our national team players benefit from Social Health Authority cover and the Affordable Housing Programme,” Ruto said. “Your success reflects deliberate investment in youth, talent development and sports.”
Ruto said the government has scaled up support for sports nationwide. More than 10,000 young athletes are currently enrolled in structured development programmes through schools, county governments and the Kenya Academy of Sports.
In addition, over 6,000 coaches, trainers, physiotherapists and sports administrators have undergone specialized training.
Infrastructure has also received a major boost. Talanta Sports City is 95 percent complete, while 32 modern stadia are under construction across the country.
In the last financial year, the government invested Sh4.5 billion to support national teams with accommodation, kits, allowances and logistics.
“For too long, sports was not treated as a national priority. This administration is the first to invest substantial resources in sports development,” the President said. “With over 30 sports facilities currently under construction, we have renewed hope for millions of young Kenyans.”
Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohamed assured that both teams are well prepared.
“We have provided all the necessary support. The Senior Starlets depart today for France for a two-week high-performance camp ahead of WAFCON,” he said.
“Women’s football is on the rise. Our role now is to get the software right, to use these facilities to commercialize football, grow the game, and ensure our players are properly remunerated and taken care of.”
