President William Ruto has pledged to sponsor two prominent Kenyan football fans, Masagara and Usefullidioty, for an all-expenses-paid trip to the United Kingdom to watch the English Premier League live.
The announcement came during a lively exchange at State House, Nairobi, with Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o.
The duo engaged in playful banter over the longstanding Manchester United and Arsenal rivalry.
When Jalang’o advocated for Masagara, a devoted United fan who has never seen his team live, President Ruto joked, “Which Manchester? Don’t you read the table?”
However, Ruto soon accepted the challenge, adding a twist to keep things fair.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 16, 2026
He said, “If you’ve agreed that he goes to the Emirates, then I will sponsor Masagara to go to Old Trafford. I will buy them business class tickets and a place to sleep.”
Ruto emphasised that the trip aims to give fans exposure to world-class sporting standards.
“Let them get the experience, so when they return they will know how things will be here at Talanta,” he noted, referring to the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City currently under construction.
The stadium is a key part of Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2027 AFCON alongside Uganda and Tanzania, in addition to major renovations at Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums.
This gesture aligns with Ruto’s recent support for local sports.
He recently fulfilled a Sh4 million pledge for the April 4, 2026, boxing match between social media sensations Majembe and Mbavu the Destroyer.
Delivered through Jalang’o to promoter Oga Obinna, the funds provided Sh1 million each as direct purses for the fighters and an additional Sh2 million to purchase 2,000 tickets, allowing fans free entry.
Ruto appears to be on a charm offensive, rallying support for Talanta Stadium while boosting morale ahead of Kenya’s major continental hosting duties.
