McCarthy, Odemba, Austin Odhiambo awarded by President Ruto during Jamhuri Day

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy and his Harambee Starlets counterpart Beldine Odemba led a contingent of sportsmen who were among the 881 Kenyans who received various state honours by President William Ruto during the Jamhuri Day celebrations.

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McCarthy was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) for leading Harambee Stars to the quarter finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) which was hosted in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Odemba, on the other hand, was awarded the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) largely for guiding Harambee Starlets to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after nine years of waiting.

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The former Kenya Police Bullets FC head coach took charge of the national team in September 2023 and has managed to transform the women's senior national football team into a more competitive outfit, culminating in qualification for the continental tourney.

MBS is one of the third-class honours in Kenya and was awarded to 235 individuals, with Odemba joining Members of Parliament (MPs), Colonels in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), as well as senior police officers, including Nairobi Police Commander George Seda.

Kenya qualified for WAFCON after a hard-fought 4-1 aggregate win over The Gambia in October and is now preparing to face other African giants in Morocco next year.

Apart from the national team, Odemba has also coached various teams in the country, including guiding Kenya Police Bullets FC to the FKF Women's Premier League (WPL) title in their maiden season in the top flight and defending it before parting ways with the club in September 2025.

Additionally, Odemba also doubles up as the Under-20 Women's (Rising Starlets) head coach.

The former Mathare United assistant coach has also handled Highway Secondary School at both the National and East African levels in the school games.

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Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo was also a beneficiary of the awards after receiving the second-class Order of the Golden Warrior (OGW) for his exploits at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Still in football, former Harambee Stars captain and assistant head coach Musa Otieno was honoured with an HSC.

Joining Odhiambo was world 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who was awarded the second class Order of the Golden Warrior (OGW) for his exploits in athletics, as well as women's world 800 meters champion Lilian Odira.

Kenya Rugby Union's Harriet Okach was also a beneficiary of the awards, receiving a Head of State’s Commendation (HSC) for advancing the sport’s commercial strategy and successfully hosting the Africa Women’s 7s in November this year.

Okach is also the first woman to lead the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) in its 55-year history.