This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
The financial woes of Kenyan football have reached a boiling point, with the top-tier league on the verge of collapse.
As the league prepares for the sixth round of matches, several clubs have informed the federation that they cannot afford to honour fixtures, citing a lack of funds.
Kenya Premier League's (KPL) Chief Executive Jack Oguda confirmed that seven clubs, including Kakamega Homeboyz, Mathare United, Chemelil Sugar, Sony Sugar, and Kisumu All-Stars, have formally requested to postpone the competition.
According to Kakamega Homeboyz owner and club chairman Cleophas Shimanyula, the situation is dire, with referees and players going unpaid for months.
“We are using referees who have not been paid for months and you know what that means. They have nothing to lose. Most players have also not been paid and do not even train. It is scary,” Shimanyula said.
The crisis is attributed to the sudden exit of betting company SportPesa, which lost the league about Sh90 million a year in direct funding.
With the league body struggling to find a new sponsor, the future of Kenyan football hangs in the balance.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the league can be salvaged or if it will succumb to the financial pressures.
