This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
Kenya's top football league, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), is facing a severe financial crisis that threatens its very existence. The situation came to a head on Saturday when AFC Leopards travelled to Awendo to play Sony Sugar, but the match was abandoned due to the host team's failure to show up, citing financial difficulties.
According to Anthony Kimani, AFC Leopards' assistant coach, the financial crunch is not unique to Sony Sugar, but a widespread problem affecting many clubs in the league. 'It is not a Sony Sugar problem. All clubs are facing this kind of situation,' Kimani said in an interview with Citizen Digital.
The financial woes of the KPL are attributed to the exit of SportPesa, the league's main sponsor, which has since halted operations in Kenya. SportPesa was sponsoring not only the KPL but also the two most successful clubs in Kenya, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. The clubs' huge salary budgets, which stand at Sh. 5.5 million per month for Gor Mahia, make them particularly vulnerable to the financial crunch.
As a result, the two clubs have turned to people of goodwill to help run their basic operations, just five rounds into the 2019/20 season. The situation has sparked fears that the league may be stopped, with KPL Chief Executive Officer Jack Oguda hinting at a possible break last weekend.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa has proposed a new agreement that would give the federation more voice in the running of the league. Mwendwa's proposal includes the appointment of a professional chairman for the KPL, who would be elected by delegates for a term of four years.
While the proposal has been welcomed by KPL CEO Jack Oguda, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to save the league from financial ruin. The National Super League (NSL), whose official broadcaster has expressed a wish to terminate their partnership, is also facing similar challenges.
