FKF promises to pay Harambee Starlets once government remits cash

Harambee Starlets are taken through their paces during their first training session for the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations at the Utalii Grounds on October 29.[Jonah Onyango, Standard]

A player in the women’s national football team — Harambee Starlets — recently wrote to The Defender on behalf of her colleagues who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

The shocking email read in part: “We have been suffering in silence in the hands of the federation. Those who dare raise the issue of outstanding allowances risk being left out of the national team squad.”

The email goes on: “Last year in July, we took part in the Cecafa tournament. The players were supposed to receive Sh85,000 each after breaking camp. But they only gave us Sh500 each for bus fare with the promise that the full amount would be wired to our accounts soon afterwards. The money never came.”

It was no long before the same players were called to camp for the Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon) preparations in October and allowances accumulated further.

“After breaking camp, FKF chairman Nick Mwendwa gave us Sh15,000 each, with the promise that all our arrears would be cleared the following week. But we are still waiting. It’s now 2019 and there has been no communication from the federation.

The player goes on to claim that whenever they ask about their allowances, all they are told is that the FKF has no money and that they are waiting for Ministry of Sports to release some money.

Harambee Starlets team before taking on Equaitorial Guinea during first leg of AWCON qualifier at Kenyatta stadium Machakos County on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

“We don’t know who will come to our help. The national team is our main source of income because women’s clubs in Kenya do not pay. Some of us have families who depend on us,” wrote the anonymous player.

She adds that since Harambee Stars qualified for Afcon, all focus has shifted to the men and no one seems bothered with the plight of the girls.

Defender Action

The Nairobian Defender contacted FKF and spoke to Mr Barry Otieno, the head of communication and marketing.

He admitted that the federation has not paid the Starlets, as well as some male players and referees due to lack of funds.

Otieno explained that: “Normally, allowances, which also include hotel accommodation, and flight cost among other expenses, are paid by the government. But since we have not received money from the government as per the budget we forwarded to them, we have been unable to meet our obligations for the players and we deeply regret this.”

Otieno says when Sportpesa used to sponsor them, they used to get Sh12 million sponsorship money per year. But after SportPesa withdrew, they found themselves in dire financial need, which is why they sometimes fail to pay players on time.

He adds that the failure to operationalise the Sports Fund has also contributed to the delay.

He notes that there was supposed to be a meeting between the FKF chairman and a committee from the Ministry of Sports and Culture on January 9, but this failed to take off.

“We are however engaging the government and once the funds are released, we will be able to pay the players, including the money owed to Utalii Hotel, where the girls spent three weeks,” said Otieno.