President William Ruto has thrown his full support behind the national football team, Harambee Stars, ahead of the upcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) set for August.

Speaking during a surprise visit to the team’s training session at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Ruto delivered an emphatic message of unity and faith, reminding the players of the massive responsibility they carry on behalf of the nation.

“I have come here as President of Kenya to say that we trust and believe in you. We believe in your capacity, we believe in your potential,” said the President, after inspecting the facility that will serve as one of the main venues for the tournament.

Ruto urged the players to rise to the occasion, stressing that they would be representing over 55 million Kenyans on the international stage.

“You represent the hopes and dreams of every Kenyan from every county, every background, every political side, and every religion,” he said.

“We will support you, we will pray for you, and we will be cheering you on with one voice.”

The President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Salim Mvurya (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports) and Soipan Tuya (Defence), as well as Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama.

In a light-hearted but pointed moment, Ruto turned to the team captain with a challenge: “Captain, we must win. There are other things that we will discuss later. I will do something for you.”

While he did not elaborate on the promise, the message was clear—victory at CHAN would not only bring national glory but likely come with a personal reward from the President himself.

Ruto reiterated that hosting CHAN is a promise he made to Kenyans—and one he has delivered on.

“I promised that we were going to host CHAN for the first time, and it is now happening. Let us win so that we crown it all,” he said.

The Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) is unique in that it features players who are active in their national leagues and eligible to play in domestic competitions.

For Kenya, it presents an unprecedented opportunity to showcase local talent on home soil, with the full backing of the government and fans alike.

“As a government, we are committed to this tournament. At a personal level, I am committed to it. And as Kenyans, we will rally ourselves to stand behind you,” Ruto assured the team.

With less than a month to kick off, preparations are in high gear, and expectations are rising.