This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
On December 2, 2019, Vihiga Queens were crowned champions of the Kenya Women Premier League (KWPL) for the third consecutive time.
The team's impressive performance saw them win 25 league matches, draw one, and lose one, earning them a total of 76 points. This left them ahead of Nairobi-based Gaspo, who collected 67 points to finish in second place.
The success of Vihiga Queens is a testament to the huge football talent at the grassroots, with many players from Vihiga United, a team based outside Nairobi, featuring in the national women's football team Harambee Starlets.
Among the notable players from Vihiga United in the Harambee Starlets squad that won the Cecafa Women Championship in Tanzania last Monday were Jentrix Shikangwa, the tournament's top scorer, and Topister Situma.
However, it is disappointing that the top leadership of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chose to shun Vihiga United's crowning ceremony at Kenyatta Stadium, Kitale, on Saturday.
This decision comes as a stark contrast to the welcome they gave to Harambee Starlets at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport just days earlier.
FKF's lack of seriousness towards the KWPL is evident in their failure to provide the necessary support to the teams. The federation was meant to give KWPL teams Sh750,000 each to cater for their expenses in the season, but did not do so.
As a result, clubs threatened to pull out of the league, and the KWPL champions were only awarded a trophy on Saturday, with no cash incentives. This can only demoralize the players, who have no other source of income.
