The government has taken effective steps to break down the gender gap in sports, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has said.
The CS made the remarks after visiting the Harambee Starlets training camp at Nyayo Stadium on Tuesday.
"I've always said that I'm an advocate for equity and equality and I believe that the same way we are supporting our sportsmen is the same way we should support our women," Namwamba remarked.
"The same support given to Harambee Stars must be extended to Harambee Starlets. The same support extended to the junior teams must also be extended to the senior teams," he added.
The CS pledged a whopping prize purse of Sh5 million to the Starlets should they beat Botswana both home and away.
"The same package we offered to Harambee Stars must be available to the women if they win against Botswana. We are looking forward to them putting in a good shift. They will be playing against an incredibly good team," Namwamba said.
He described Botswana as a formidable opponent capable of giving Kenya a run for its money. Namwamba, nonetheless, expressed confidence in Kenya's capacity to upset the form book on their way to victory.
"Botswana is a World Cup team and some of their players have featured in the women's Champions League. The top scorer in the women's CL is from Botswana and she will be facing Starlets. But I have all the confidence that our girls are similarly talented," Namwamba said.
The CS said he secured the timely release of dependable midfielder Sheryl Angai for the crunch tie.
"I'm very grateful to the CDF General Ogolla. I want to thank him for accepting my plea for Sheryl to be released from training to join the rest of the team," he added.
"From the government side, we have done everything possible to make sure that we avail the best players possible to the technical bench. We must turn up in good numbers and cheer our girls to victory," Namwamba concluded.
Namwamba further said that the government will assist all national teams in their endeavor to bag trophies.
