President William Ruto on Tuesday, September 19 awarded the National Rugby 7s team, Shujaa, Ksh3 million following their remarkable qualification for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba made the presentation of the award during a breakfast ceremony, expressing the President’s admiration for the team’s achievement.
Shujaa, the six-time African 7s Champions, returned to Kenya on Tuesday, September 18, fresh from their triumphant victory over favorites South Africa in Harare.
Their 17-12 win secured their spot at the Paris Olympics, a feat that brought pride to the nation.
CS Namwamba, in an interview, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the team and acknowledged the Ministry’s role in preparing and supporting them.
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He emphasized that the token of Ksh3 million is an exception to the Ministry’s reward scheme policy, which typically doesn’t reward qualifiers.
Shujaa players to receive Ksh100,000 each
Each of the 24 players in the Shujaa squad will receive a sum of Ksh200,000.
The members of the technical bench on the other hand will be granted Ksh100,000 each, ensuring that every contributor to the team’s success is duly recognized.
This accomplishment adds Shujaa to the list of Kenyan teams qualifying for the Paris Summer 2024 Olympics, joining the ranks of the National Volleyball Women’s team, the Malkia Strikers.
Moreover, the Kenya Rugby Union received a substantial boost from CS Namwamba, who pledged a 50-hectare piece of land within the Kasarani ecosystem.
According to the CS, this land is earmarked for development into a rugby hub, serving as a dedicated training environment to further elevate Shujaa’s competitive edge.
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Notably, the team shared a celebratory dinner in Harare with Kenya’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
“Thanks to our High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Stella Munyi who was a constant presence throughout our games, providing us unwavering support as part of a lively cheering squad,” posted the Kenya Rugby Union.
Kenyan rugby enthusiasts are rejoicing after a series of challenging moments that saw the 7s team facing eliminations from the World Rugby Series.
This significant victory has reignited spirits and rekindled hopes for the sport’s future in Kenya.
In a demonstration of Kenya’s rugby prowess, a friendly match dubbed the Sportpesa Legends Cup, is scheduled for this weekend, pitting Kenya legends against Uganda legends at the RFUEA Grounds.
