Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday flagged off the national under-17 women’s soccer team and the senior women’s team ahead of their departure for tournaments in Morocco, and later hosted them to breakfast at State House to celebrate their qualification.
Ruto told the teams the country was behind them as they prepare to represent Kenya on the global and continental stage.
The Harambee Junior Starlets have qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the second time. The Harambee Starlets will play at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from July 25 to Aug. 16.
“You are going to Morocco to wear the colours of Kenya on the biggest stage in world football,” Ruto told the junior team. “There is no greater honour for any sportsman or sportswoman than representing your motherland before the world.”
Ruto recalled the junior team’s comeback against South Africa at Nyayo National Stadium. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Kenya won 3-1 on the day and 5-1 on aggregate.
“In the 71st minute, Gaudencia Maloba, a young girl from Lindi here in Kibra, Nairobi, scored the equaliser that changed the direction of the match,” he said.
It will be Kenya’s second U-17 Women’s World Cup appearance. The team debuted in 2024 in the Dominican Republic, beating Mexico 2-1 in the group stage.
Ruto urged the team to advance further this year.
“This time, I challenge you to aim even higher. Aim to qualify from the group stages. Believe that you can compete with anyone FIFA places before you,” he said.
The president highlighted players from different parts of the country. He said Maloba’s goal “carries a lesson far greater than football. It reminds us that when young people are given an opportunity and trusted to perform, they often rise beyond every expectation.”
He also noted 16-year-old Elizabeth Opiyo, a ninth-grade student from Siaya County who plays soccer and runs track.
“Your journey reminds us that excellence has no age, and that discipline in the classroom and discipline on the playing field reinforce each other,” Ruto said.
Ruto praised coach Mildred Cheche as the first Kenyan coach, male or female, to lead a national team to the FIFA World Cup twice.
Junior Starlets captain Beverlyne Awuor asked about medical coverage.
“You have asked for medical insurance, and I agree with you 100%,” Ruto said. “From now on, we shall make sure that you have medical insurance that will cover everything, including the surgery you talked about.”
Awuor and Starlets captain Mwanalima Adam also spoke about growing up in Nairobi’s informal settlements.
“No Kenyan should live in those kinds of conditions,” Ruto said, referring to lack of water, toilets and electricity. “We have rolled out the affordable housing. We want to get rid of the slums, and you have requested that; we shall do it.”
Ruto said the government has invested 4.5 billion Kenyan shillings, about $35 million, in national teams in the past year. He added that more than 10,000 young athletes are in development programs and that over 6,000 coaches and administrators have been trained. A new national stadium in Nairobi is 95% complete.
Kenya’s senior women were drawn into Group A for WAFCON with host Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.
