This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
Former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya has appealed to county governments to rescue Stima teams abandoned by Kenya Power, citing the potential loss of income for players.
On June 26, 2020, Nyamweya expressed his disappointment over Kenya Power's decision to terminate its sponsorship of Western Stima, Coast Stima, and Nairobi Stima, citing the Covid-19 pandemic as the reason.
"We the football stakeholders were disappointed by the announcement by Kenya Power of withdrawing sponsorship from three of its football teams participating in the KPL and the second-tier Super league, citing adverse business environment owing to the Covid-19 pandemic," Nyamweya said.
He proposed that the county governments adopt and sponsor the teams, allowing them to transition back to community ownership.
For Coast Stima, Nyamweya suggested reverting the team to its original status as a community club based in Mombasa and rebranding it as Coast United FC.
He also proposed that the County Government of Nairobi adopt Nairobi Stima and rebrand it as Nairobi County FC, while Western Stima should consider relocating to the North Rift Region and be adopted, sponsored, and rebranded by either Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, or Elgeyo Marakwet County Government.
"It is my considered opinion that if my proposal is well received and accepted it will cushion the players from loss of income," Nyamweya said.
