Ni fire! Kindiki celebrates Harambee Starlets historic win against India

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hailed Kenya’s Harambee Starlets for their commanding 2-0 victory over India in the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s FIFA Series, describing the result as historic and unprecedented for the national women’s team.

The Starlets delivered a dominant performance at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, April 11, with goals showcasing their tactical preparedness.

The young players demonstrated their dominance in both halves of the game with outstanding goals in the second and 55th minutes.

The win pushed the hosts into the tournament final, where they will face a formidable Australia side on Wednesday, April 15.

In a video message, Kindiki congratulated the team for their clinical display against a higher-ranked Indian outfit.

“What you’ve done is commendable and unprecedented,” the deputy president said, expressing national pride in the players’ resilience and skill.

Kindiki, known for his energetic style, did not hold back in celebrating the milestone. He invoked his popular catchphrase to underscore the magnitude of the milestone of the team.

“I am not afraid to say Harambee Starlets ni fire. Fire si fire. Harambee Starlets ni noma. Noma si noma.”

The phrase, translating roughly to “Harambee Starlets are fire. They are tough,” has become a signature rallying cry for the deputy president when praising Kenyan feats.

Australia is set to compete for the tournament title with the home team after thrashing Malawi 5-0 in the semifinals.

The final at Nyayo National Stadium is expected to draw huge crowds as Kenya seeks to cap a memorable campaign with silverware or a strong showing against one of Asia’s top teams. 

The Harambee Starlets' impressive rise from tournament underdogs to finalists has sparked national excitement and hope for Kenya's ability to play high-quality football.