This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
Kenya's women footballers are facing a crisis in the country's premier league, with many struggling to make ends meet.
According to a recent report, 19 walkovers have been recorded in the league this season, with three teams relegated for failing to honor three matches.
Referees officiating the league have also not been paid for months, with some threatening to down their tools in light of the harsh financial circumstances.
Players interviewed by Nation Sport expressed concern about the future of the league, citing financial constraints and double standards in the federation's mandate.
FKF has maintained that the problems stem from bureaucracy at Fifa, but players feel that the federation is indifferent to their plight.
One player shared a personal story of how her team had to raise funds among themselves to travel for an away match, highlighting the difficulties faced by teams in the league.
Monique, a player from Kisumu All Starlets, said, 'It is hard but we are not going to give walkovers. We don’t have a sponsor, but we usually raise funds among ourselves and the club’s well wishers.'
FKF Communications Officer Barry Otieno attributed the problems to Fifa's bureaucracy, saying, 'We have not withheld the financial grants from the teams. There is a process that has to be followed before member football associations (FAs) access the money.'
However, players feel that the federation is not doing enough to address the issues, with some accusing FKF of favoritism in the allocation of funds.
As the league struggles to stay afloat, players are also accusing the federation of double standards in their mandate, with some teams being allowed to reschedule matches without much fuss.
One player said, 'We asked that our game be rescheduled last week, but the federation refused our request, yet we did not have the money to travel. That’s why we issued the walkover.'
Despite the challenges, some teams are determined to stay strong, with Monique's team planning to travel for an away match despite financial constraints.
However, the future of the league remains uncertain, with players and teams struggling to make ends meet.
