President William Ruto was awarded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with the Outstanding Achievement Award 2025.
The award is in recognition of Ruto's significant contribution to the development and growth of football in Kenya and on the continent, showing the growing connection between governance and sports.
The accolade, presented on Wednesday evening in Rabat,
Morocco, recognises Ruto's unwavering commitment to elevating football
infrastructure and development in East Africa and beyond.
The 2025 CAF Awards gala was hosted under the patronage of CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
It brought together football dignitaries, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to celebrate excellence in African soccer.
Ruto, unable to attend in person, was represented by Kenya's Ambassador to
Morocco, Jessica Muthoni Gakinya, who accepted the award on his behalf amid
resounding applause.
Joining Ruto in the spotlight were fellow East African
leaders, including Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda's
President Yoweri Museveni, both of whom received identical honours for their
collaborative efforts.
The award was introduced by Motsepe in 2022 to spotlight heads of state who champion football's growth.
This year's recipients were
singled out for their instrumental roles in co-hosting the African Nations
Championship (CHAN) 2024, a tournament that Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda revived
after multiple delays.
The tri-nation bid not only delivered a seamless event in
August but also set new standards with upgraded stadiums, streamlined
logistics, and enhanced security—drawing praise for boosting regional unity and
fan engagement.
CAF highlighted Ruto's personal investments as transformative.
Under his administration, Kenya is constructing the ultramodern Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, a
60,000-capacity complex designed to nurture talent from grassroots to elite
levels.
Hussein Mohammed, President of the Football Kenya Federation
(FKF), hailed the recognition as a milestone.
"Our head of State, William Ruto, received a special award for his support towards football development in Kenya at the CAF Awards 2025," Mohammed stated on his X social media.
"With the
elaborate support structure the government is putting in place for sports and
particularly football, I have no doubt our players shall soon be recipients of
these coveted accolades as well,” he posted
Ambassador Gakinya echoed the sentiment, noting in her
acceptance remarks that the honour reflects President Ruto's belief that
football unites our people and propels Africa forward.
