Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has promised a cash prize to the Harambee Stars players as they partake in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) football championship.

He said he would be adding Ksh 400 million to what President William Ruto promised the team.

Sonko said the money will be handed to the team should it win the tournament.

"The president has done a good gesture. It will motivate the players. Mine will be to reinforce what the president has done, but it won't be a competition. I want our team to emerge victorious. If they win the title, I, Mike Sonko, will add Ksh 400,000 to what the president has added. So if the team wins, they have Ksh 1 billion. And I don't give false promises," Sonko said.

The philanthropic politician challenged other members of the political class to consider extending the same gesture to the national team as a motivation. 

President Ruto called on the team on Saturday, August 2, ahead of their opening match against the DRC on Sunday, August 3.

The team will be taking on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the opener slated for Sunday, August 3, at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

He had a session with the players and made lofty cash prizes to fire the team up to victory.

"I want us to make a deal. For every game you win, every player gets Ksh 1 million. For every game you draw, every player gets Ksh 500,000. We had agreed that the team would get Ksh 200 million for making it to the finals. But I make it Ksh 600,000 if you make it to the finals. I have multiplied everything for everyone to play their part," the president said.

Each stage throughout the Harambee Stars' campaign will attract a prize, the president promised.

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Upon making it to the quarters, the team will get Ksh 60 million.

At the semis, the team will get Ksh 70 million and Ksh 90 million for the finals.

Kenya is co-hosting the tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda.