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Show up for the girl child too: Harambee Starlets beg Ruto as WAFCON looms
28th February, 2026 02:34 PM
Harambee Starlets attacker Mwanahalima Adam ‘Dogo‘ has challenged President William Ruto to extend support to the women’s team, the Harambee Starlets, ahead of their Women’s African Cup of Nations games in Morocco.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, February 28, 2026, Dogo said it is unfair that the girls’ team is being left out, with no encouragement from government officials, a facet she says is a departure from the massive morale and financial boost extended to their male counterparts during the 2024 CHAN games.
Support the girls
“Why no hype for our WAFCON games? This competition is bigger than CHAN; we are representing Africa, but by the look of things, it is as if it is a smaller one,” she posited.
Dogo has asked the ladies’ team to get the same support the men’s team received during the 2024 African Nations Championship.
“The president should show up for us. We’ve been in camp and heard nothing from him or the CSs. So far, we feel we have been left to ourselves and the technical team. Let him show up and support us,” she added.
Dogo clarified that the team is not after elaborate financial intervention, stressing that mere words of encouragement can motivate the team.
“Support is not necessarily in terms of finances. He can as well have visited the team and shown solidarity as he did during CHAN.”
Ruto’s past rewards
During CHAN, Ruto Ruto came good on his financial promise to the team, delivering a Ksh1 million pledge to all the team players and members of the TB opening game win against DR Congo.
He followed up the promise with similar offers as Harambee Stars advanced to the competition’s quarterfinals.
The rewards saw the national team football players make a sudden financial windfall, smiling all their way to the bank to collect their millions.
The president also extended a Ksh5 million reward to motivate Harambee Starlets in October 2025 as Starlets angled for the final qualifier clash against the Gambia. He further promised to announce an additional set of performance rewards depending on the team’s results in the qualifier.
