This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
Philemon Otieno, a Gor Mahia player, suffered a knee injury while representing Harambee Stars against Tanga Stars in the African Nations Championship on August 4, 2019.
Seven weeks have passed since the injury, yet Otieno has not undergone the necessary reconstructive surgery.
The reason for the delay lies in a dispute between Gor Mahia and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over who should bear the medical expenses.
According to agreements between clubs and FKF, the moment a player receives a national call-up, they become FKF and national government property.
FKF's NEC has approved rules requiring the federation to ensure all players have adequate medical and other insurance cover for injury, illness, or accidental death while representing the country.
It is therefore puzzling for FKF to claim that it lacks the funds to cover Otieno's medical bills, especially considering the Sh260 million it received for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2019.
Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda have established systems to care for injured or sick players, with corporate sponsors often supporting their national teams.
FKF received Sh260 million from Betin, the government, and Confederation of African Football (Caf) for qualifying for Afcon, yet it claims to be unable to cover Otieno's medical expenses.
