When Harambee Stars stunned Morocco in the CHAN 2024 clash earlier this month, fans celebrated a historic win. But instead of the spotlight remaining on the players, the focus has shifted to singer Bahati and his controversial KSh 1 million pledge that has since turned into public drama.
The Big Promise That Fell Flat
Before the match, Bahati and his wife Diana Marua promised to give Harambee Stars KSh 1 million if they beat Morocco. It was a grand gesture, one that made headlines and gave fans something extra to cheer about.
The Stars delivered with a narrow but crucial 1–0 victory — only for the money to disappear into thin air.
Bahati’s Viral Instagram Video
On 28th August 2025, Bahati released an official statement through an Instagram video where he flaunted 3 million wards of cash with the help of his friend DK Kwenye Beat. In the video, Bahati is heard saying that a million is nothing to him. He add that 3 million is his weekly expenditure and was not promising for clout. See the video in the following link https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN51o7ijG3o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
In the clip, Bahati said CAF rules had stopped him from walking into the players’ dressing room with the money. Instead, he explained, he had entrusted FKF Deputy Chair McDonald Mariga to handle the process.
Pointing Fingers at Mariga
What looked like a simple delay has now blown up. Bahati is openly blaming Mariga for failing to deliver the cash to the players. He even went as far as sharing WhatsApp screenshots showing unanswered calls and texts, suggesting that Mariga went quiet despite his follow-ups.
Sports commentator Fred Arocho also weighed in, saying Mariga had assured him Bahati would hand over the money once back from Naivasha. Yet weeks later, the players still have nothing to show.
Outrage From Fans and Players
Instead of being remembered as the man who motivated Harambee Stars, Bahati is now under fire. Fans accuse him of using the team for clout, while some players have reportedly expressed disappointment at being dragged into empty publicity stunts.
Memes mocking the saga have flooded social media, with many asking why Bahati chose to involve Mariga if he was serious about paying up.
Bahati Digs In
Even with the backlash, Bahati insists he’s being sabotaged. In a chat with gospel singer DK Kwenye Beat, he downplayed the uproar, calling KSh 1 million “a small amount” and asking Kenyans to move on.
But the damage is already done. What started as a generous gesture now feels like another messy episode in Bahati’s long history of attention-grabbing controversies.
A Lesson in Promises and Publicity
For Harambee Stars, the situation is simple: they won the game, and the promised money never came. For fans, it’s a reminder to take celebrity pledges with caution.
As of now:
- Bahati says the cash is real.
- Mariga hasn’t directly addressed the blame.
- The players are still waiting.
Until something changes, the “KSh 1 million promise” remains one of the most talked-about Kenyan football controversies of 2025. See about the promise https://www.whispers.co.ke/531/celebrities/2025/bahati-under-fire-after-failing-to-deliver-ksh-1m-promise-to-harambee-stars/
