Fifa World Cup arrives at JKIA, Uhuru to receive trophy at State House
What you need to know:
- From JKIA, the trophy will head to State House where only President Uhuru Kenyatta will get the golden opportunity to lift the cup.
The coveted Fifa World Cup trophy has arrived in the country for the much-awaited, two-day tour.
The plane carrying the 18-carat golden trophy, which is considered the most expensive and significant in modern-day sport, touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi a few minutes after 12pm.
Debra Malowa, Vice President Coca-cola East and Central Africa Franchise, at JKIA to receive the World Cup trophy on May 26, 2022.
Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed led the government officials who include her Tourism and Industrialisation counterparts Najib Balala and Betty Maina respectively in receiving the trophy at JKIA.
Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu was also present.
With only a sitting president or a member of a World Cup-winning squad allowed to hold the trophy, at the airport, it was behind a glass stand before the government officials were allowed to pose for a photo beside it.
The trophy is accompanied in the country by Brazilian football legend Juliano Belleti.
Belleti, 45, is a World Cup-winning defender who is remembered for scoring Barcelona's winning goal at the 2006 Uefa Champions League final.
The plane carrying the Fifa World Cup at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on May 26, 2022.
Kenya has never graced World Cup and the trophy is coming at a time when the country's football is in quagmire. Fifa has suspended Kenya due to "
third party interference."
From JKIA, the trophy will head to State House where only President Uhuru Kenyatta will get the golden opportunity to lift the cup.
