A collage of Kenyan, English Premier League fans Kevin Masagara (Man-United) and Useful Idioty (Arsenal). /FILE

President William Ruto has pledged to sponsor two popular Kenyan football superfans to watch their favourite English Premier League clubs live in the United Kingdom.

The announcement followed a light-hearted exchange between the Head of State and Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, during which the two traded playful banter over the fortunes of Arsenal F.C. and Manchester United F.C.

Jalang’o, a Man U supporter, jokingly teased the President about recent football results, saying, "You are informing me that people are going to Emirates and Old Trafford. Talanta Stadium will be the main one. Which beating by Manchester United? That was guesswork. Arsenal is still on top of the table. You don’t know that? The President said.

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In response, Ruto recalled a recent Manchester United victory before making the surprise pledge.

“There is a man called Masagara (Kevin); he is the number one Manchester fan in Kenya, and he has never watched a Manchester game live. He yearns to travel to Old Trafford. Let him go," Jalang'o said.

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To which President Ruto responded, saying, "Okay, let us also take an Arsenal fan—he is called Useful Idioty."

“Jalango, you want to spoil our plan. You know that I am an Arsenal fan, and you are telling me things to do with Manchester,” Ruto added.

“I will sponsor Masagara and Useful Idioty to go watch the matches live. I will sponsor them business class tickets and also pay for accommodation so they get the experience.”

Masagara and Useful Idioty are widely known on social media for their energetic football commentary and humorous rivalry, with large youth followings built around their passionate support for Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively, on TikTok

Ruto said the exposure would allow the duo to experience world-class match environments and share insights locally, linking the initiative to the government’s broader sports development agenda, including the planned Talanta Stadium project.

The President has in recent months extended support to various Kenyan athletes and sports personalities as part of efforts to grow the country’s sporting ecosystem.

On February 8, R

uto pledged financial and logistical support for the highly anticipated boxing match between Majembe and Mbavu Destroyer, giving a major boost to a bout that has already ignited excitement among Kenyan boxing fans.

The president made the commitment while engaging Jalang’o, who briefed him on the upcoming fight and urged him to back the event.

“There are two men, Majembe and Mbavu Destroyer, who will be meeting head-on on April 4, 2026. We have given them one month to train, you must place something on it,” Jalang’o told the President.

Responding lightheartedly, Ruto agreed to support the match, describing it as a different kind of national attraction.

“You are saying it is not Nyota, affordable housing, or the Social Health Authority. It’s not even a market—this is a different type of ‘stone’,” the president said.

“I wish Majembe and Mbavu Destroyer all the best. Let them go and try it out. I place Sh1 million for Majembe and Sh1 million for Mbavu Destroyer. For the fans who are going to watch, I will buy them 2,000 tickets,” he added.

The pledge has further fueled anticipation around the bout, which is being billed as one of the most thrilling boxing showdowns in recent Kenyan history.