A petition urging President William Ruto to bestow the Head of State Commendation (HSC) on former Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno has garnered over 5,000 signatures, surpassing the initial target of 1,000. The signature campaign culminated in a vibrant sports day held on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Jericho, Nairobi.The event featured a symbolic football match between a team of former Harambee Stars legends, captained by Otieno, and a select side known as ‘Friends of Musa’—composed largely of players from Jericho’s Jambu FC. Otieno, alongside fellow legend Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omolo, anchored a strong defense as the legends, led by Nicholas Muyoti, clinched a 2-0 victory to mark the occasion.##NAJAVA_MECA_8916698##Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsSpeaking at the event, Otieno expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support, noting that while recognition would be a personal honor, the initiative also serves as a powerful reminder of the many forgotten sports heroes.“Being recognized would be a great personal honor, but more importantly, it highlights a broader issue—many former athletes who contributed greatly to Kenyan sports and their communities have been overlooked,” said Otieno. “Recognition should not rely on public petitions alone; there should be structured systems in place to honor and support our legends so they can continue to inspire the youth.”Details of new World Athletics event featuring a Ksh1.3 billion prize purseMartin Kang’ara, chair of the petition committee, emphasized the need for consistent recognition of Kenyan sports icons. “We launched this campaign with a modest goal of 1,000 signatures, and the public response has been phenomenal. Musa Otieno, with 105 national team caps over a 15-year career, deserves this honor, and we sincerely hope President Ruto will take note,” said Kang’ara.A coalition of football fans and stakeholders, including Kang’ara, former FKF Communications Head Kenn Okaka, Eastlands opinion leader Boniface Munyao, and Makadara-based content creators Cartel TV spearheaded the initiative. Their aim was to rally national support for Otieno, fondly known as “Otero,” and spotlight his impact on Kenyan football and society.Benni McCarthy explains decision to take Harambee Stars job over MLS, South AfricaThe event drew a strong turnout from Eastlands residents and members of the broader football fraternity, all eager to celebrate Otieno’s legacy and lend their support to the petition. A number of former Harambee Stars players attended, including Peter Lichungu, Nicholas Muyoti, Ibrahim Kitawi, George Sunguti, Sammy Omolo Pamzo, William Oloo, Rodgers Kadenge, and former Harambee Starlets stars Veronica Achieng’ and Mary Adhiambo (“Busu”).Also present were boxing luminaries Benson Gicharu, a two-time Olympian and Commonwealth medalist, and Franklin “Kukaa” Imbenzi, Secretary General of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission. Both lent their voices to the broader call for honoring Kenya’s retired sports heroes.STARS ABROAD: Kenyan defender wins Man of the match award in DenmarkOtieno, revered for his leadership on and off the pitch, is now focused on nurturing future stars through the Kick Off to Hope Football Academy in Makadara. A certified CAF and FIFA instructor, Otieno has also served as assistant coach for Harambee Stars and head coach for Harambee Starlets. His academy has produced several players now thriving abroad.With a record 105 appearances for the national team—more than any other Kenyan player—Otieno’s legacy remains unmatched.Kevin Wangaya looking to land life-changing deal after impressive U20 AFCON outing
