Advertisement
Ruto receives CAF award for outstanding stadium infrastructure
15th July, 2026 07:09 AM
President Ruto was on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 honoured as the recipient of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2025 for his outstanding role in major investments in stadiums and supporting infrastructure development and Kenya’s successful hosting of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN)
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed formally presented the award to Ruto at state house during the flag-off ceremony for the Harambee Starlets heading to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the Harambee Starlets Under-17 team bound for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The award was initially conferred to the Kenyan president by CAF president Patrice Motsepe, although in absentia in Rabat, Morocco.
Motsepe has in the past lauded Kenya’s efforts to fast-track progress on the 2027 AFCON games, as highlighted during his visit to Nairobi in May 2026, and fittingly chose the president for the annual award.
The Outstanding Achievement Award recognises African heads of state and prominent leaders who have made exceptional contributions to the growth of football across the continent. It celebrates political leaders who actively partner with CAF member associations to develop sports infrastructure, establish talent pathways, and elevate Africa’s global standing in football.
With the latest recognition, Ruto joins a select group of African leaders honoured by CAF, including Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Cameroon’s Paul Biya, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.
This comes as Kenya ramps up preparations for the upcoming 2027 games after the successful hosting of the CHAN in 2025.
In a meeting held in May 2026, to review Kenya’s preparedness. Sports CS Salim Mvurya affirmed the country’s preparedness for the continental showpiece through streamlining of operations across the various frameworks of government agencies.
“We have adopted a whole-of-government approach to streamline operations and ensure seamless coordination in delivering a world-class continental football showcase,” his statement read in part.
Meeting CAF demands
The government also reiterated its commitment to its readiness to CAF timelines on inspection of key facilities such as the multi-million, 60,000-seater Raila Odinga Stadium, currently in its final stages of completion.
“We remain committed to adhering to CAF inspection timelines, particularly on infrastructure preparedness, with our main venue, the Raila Amollo Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City, set to be ready by the end of July,” he said.
As one of the AFCON co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, the hosting of the games will mark a historic moment for the region as it prepares to welcome the continent’s top football nations in what is expected to be a celebration of sport, culture, and unity.
