Kenya’s Harambee Stars will walk away with Ksh2.5 million (UGX 66 million) each if they beat Zambia on Sunday in the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) — but only 27,000 fans will be allowed inside Kasarani Stadium to witness it.
President William Ruto made the blockbuster bonus announcement on Monday during a meeting with the players and technical team in Upper Hill, Nairobi. This followed their impressive display against Morocco with the 10-man stars outshining the Atlas lions.
The reward, originally set at Ksh1 million (UGX 26.4 million), was more than doubled to spur the Stars to victory in a fixture that could define their tournament.
Under the new package, a win over Zambia will trigger the Ksh2.5 million payout per player, while a quarter-final victory will earn each an additional Ksh1 million and a two-bedroom affordable housing unit in a location of their choice.
However, the match will be played under tighter crowd controls after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed capacity restrictions on Kasarani Stadium.
In a directive to the Football Kenya Federation, CAF cited “repeated and serious security lapses” in previous Kenya home games, including:
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Overrunning of gates by ticketless fans and holders of unauthorized physical tickets.
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Breaches of the perimeter fence and loss of control at exit points.
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Crowd control failure at Ngongomongo roundabout leading to mass uncontrolled access.
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Use of tear gas and flash grenades causing panic, with allegations of live ammunition near spectators.
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Violent incidents, including stone-throwing at security personnel.
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Insufficient medical reporting and lack of CCTV coverage at critical points.
As a result, CAF has capped attendance at 27,000, just 60% of the stadium’s capacity, and restricted entry to electronic ticket holders only, banning thermal tickets.
The Local Organizing Committee and government are also required to launch a public awareness campaign on safety and entry protocols.
CAF warned that failure to comply could result in “more serious sanctions,” including moving Kenya’s matches to alternative venues.
