This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
Kenya's football crisis has reached a boiling point, with the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) facing a severe financial crisis that threatens the future of the sport in the country.
On Saturday, Nzoia Sugar FC failed to honour their match against Bandari FC in Mombasa, the latest in a string of abandoned fixtures due to unpaid salaries and lack of funds.
The crisis has been exacerbated by the resignation of Andre Casa Mbungo as AFC Leopards coach, who cited five months' unpaid salary as the reason for his departure.
Multiple league champions AFC Leopards have also lost several players in the transfer window, including Kenyan international Whyvone Isuza, who cited salary arrears as the reason for his departure.
Bandari coach Bernard Mwalala lamented the lack of funds, stating that he is unable to sign new players.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections are imminent, but officials seem more focused on campaigning than finding a financial solution to the crisis.
FKF and Kenya Premier League Limited have been criticized for allowing the league to free-fall, especially since the departure of erstwhile title sponsors SportPesa.
Kenya has massive football talent, and it is not difficult to package a league that will attract corporate and broadcast partnerships and woo fans through the turnstiles.
Ironically, FKF managed to secure sponsorship for the second-tier National Super League but have failed to finance the top league.
The disappearance of the over Sh150 million grant by world football governing body Fifa to buy broadcast facilities for the league has thrown a spanner in the works, as league games are seldom televised.
