Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has pledged Ksh400 million to Harambee Stars if they win the African Nations Championship (CHAN), bringing the total of what they stand to win to Ksh1 billion.
Sonko made the promise after President William Ruto promised to dish out Ksh600 million to the national team if they win the tournament. Ruto further promised a Ksh500,000 cash prize if they ended in a draw and Ksh1 million to each player for any game won.
“I want to commend the President for motivating our national team by promising them Ksh600 million if they win the CHAN tournament,” said Sonko.
“In the spirit of supporting the good course of our President and motivating the team, I will be giving them Ksh400 million.”
He further emphasised that the move was not to compete with the President but to support him and incentivise the national team to win the match.
Dressed in full Kenyan colours, Sonko highlighted that he had previously supported the Kenyan team, and this was just another of his rewards to the team. However, he said he would not be gifting them individually, as that had backfired before, leading to losses.
"I have been motivating our players in every game. There was a time I used to gift them for every goal scored. That can bring individualism to the team," he said.
"Each player should have an opportunity. That opportunity can be wasted while he can pass to another player who has a higher chance of scoring. So I stopped gifting per goal, but the President has done a good gesture for motivating our national team."
Among these rewards was one in 2013, when he was Nairobi's Senator. He had pledged a cash prize to the national team if they won against Nigeria, but they ended in a draw. Despite this setback, he still rewarded them with Ksh1 million.
In 2018, he pledged another Ksh3 million to the team and offered them a team lunch. In the next year, 2019, he pledged another Ksh20 million.
However, the most memorable one was in 2017 when he gifted Harambee Stars with cash prizes and incentives after they qualified for the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup final—and eventually went on to win it.
At the end, he handed out monetary awards to the team members, fulfilling a promise made live on national TV.
