President Kenyatta set for thrill date with golden World Cup trophy

President Uhuru Kenyatta is this afternoon expected to have a memorable experience with the golden Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) World Cup trophy which is valued at around Sh 1 billion when he officially receives the glittering trophy at the lawns of State House.

The trophy which is on a tour of the world, aiming to cover 51 countries and some 91 cities, Kenya included,  as a measure of promoting the 2018 World Cup Games set to be played in the summer between June 14-July 15 in Russia, landed in Kenya mid-morning on Monday accompanied by top Fifa officials.

At hand to receive the Fifa trophy which was accompanied by top Fifa bosses were Sports Cabinet Secretaryray Rashid Achesa and Football Kenya Federation chief Nick Mwendwa.

When the trophy is eventually presented to the Head of State, he will not only touch and hold it ‘live’ but also have a photo opportunity with it.

Tomorrow(Tuesday), football fans will have a chance to interact with the trophy through photo sessions at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre(KICC).

In line with Fifa guidelines, only a sitting Head of State and World Cup winners are allowed to touch the trophy.Kenya has never won the trophy let alone participated in the World Cup finals meaning no individual bar the President can touch the treasured jewel.

In the run-up to the 2010World Cup finals held in South Africa, the trophy also made a visit to Kenya with then President Mwai Kibaki receiving a similar treat.