NAIROBI, Kenya- Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Friday presided over a reception in Nairobi to honour Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, whose historic appointment to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an abrupt end before the tournament.
The event, held at BBS Mall in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, brought together leaders from Kenya and Somalia, members of the Somali diaspora and football stakeholders to celebrate Artan’s achievements despite his withdrawal from the World Cup officiating team.
Artan had made history after becoming the first Somali referee selected among the 52 match officials appointed by FIFA for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, a milestone widely celebrated across the Horn of Africa.
However, his World Cup assignment was later cut short following FIFA’s decision to remove him from the final list of officials.
Reports indicated the move followed concerns raised over a social media post that was deemed inconsistent with FIFA’s neutrality requirements.
Speaking during the reception, Duale described Artan’s selection as a source of pride for Somalia, Kenya and the wider East African region, saying setbacks should not discourage young people from pursuing excellence.
He urged youth across the region to remain resilient in the face of challenges and continue striving to achieve their ambitions despite unexpected disappointments.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted the Kenya Kwanza administration’s investment in sports infrastructure, saying President William Ruto’s government had allocated KSh26.4 billion to complete 39 stadium projects across the country.
Among the flagship projects is the Talanta Sports City Stadium, a 60,000-seat facility expected to play a central role as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania under the Pamoja Bid.
The ceremony was attended by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya Jabril Abdulle, Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed, Dadaab MP Farah Maalim, Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, and BBS Mall Chairman Abdiweli Maalim, among other leaders.
The leaders commended Artan for breaking barriers in African football officiating and expressed hope that he would return to the international stage in future FIFA competitions.