This archive report was first published on 25 April 2020.
On May 28, 2018, Harambee Stars players, including Captain Musa Mohamed, took to the field at Kasarani stadium for an international match. Little did they know that their country's football future was about to take a drastic turn.
As of April 25, 2020, Kenya is on the cusp of being removed from the Fifa 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The reason behind this impending removal is Football Kenya Federation's (FKF) failure to pay former national football team coach Adel Amrouche his contractual dues, despite being illegally fired.
According to the Fifa Players' Status Committee, FKF was ordered to pay the coach Sh65 million. However, the federation rejected Amrouche's request for staggered payment, prompting him to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The arbitral award was later revised upwards to Sh82.25 million, plus attendant interests, which brought the total amount to Sh109 million. This staggering sum has left many questioning the financial accountability and integrity of FKF's administration.
FKF's reckless comments on the matter have only added fuel to the fire. Nick Mwendwa, the federation's former chairman, was quoted as saying that removing Harambee Stars from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar 'will not be the end of the world'. Such remarks are a slap in the face to football lovers who are already reeling from the federation's mishandling of funds.
FKF has been under scrutiny for misusing funds from Fifa, the Confederation of African Football, and sponsors. The latest controversy surrounds the federation's decision to plough Sh125 million into a UK-based company that has since gone into administration, claiming to want to buy an Outside Broadcasting van.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: FKF's actions have left a sour taste in the mouths of Kenyans. The removal of Harambee Stars from the World Cup qualifiers would be a letdown for football lovers, and FKF's reckless comments have only added to the disappointment.
