Senators and Members of Parliament have raised concerns over unpaid allowances, welfare challenges and administrative gaps affecting Harambee Stars players and technical staff amid ongoing governance disputes within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey has sought Senate intervention over delayed allowances, logistical shortcomings and administrative challenges affecting the national football team.
In a request for a statement from the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, Cherarkey said concerns emerged during the September 2026 national team camp over unpaid players’ allowances, welfare arrangements and the status of work permits for Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy and other non-Kenyan technical staff.
“Our national team cannot be expected to compete effectively at international level when players are uncertain about their allowances or when basic welfare and logistical arrangements remain unresolved. These matters must be addressed professionally and on time,” Cherarkey said.
The senator wants the committee to establish the amount owed to players and technical staff from current and previous assignments, the amounts already settled and firm timelines for clearing outstanding payments.
He has also sought details on accommodation, air travel, transport, training facilities, meals and other logistical arrangements provided during national team camps and international assignments.
Cherarkey has raised particular concern over the status of work permits and other documentation for McCarthy and foreign members of the technical team.
He wants the committee to establish when the applications were lodged, the reasons for any delays and measures being taken to ensure compliance with immigration and employment requirements.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Football Kenya Federation must clearly account for their respective responsibilities. Players and technical staff deserve a system where financing, welfare and administrative requirements are handled before they become a crisis,” Cherarkey said.
The committee is also expected to establish the mechanisms available to players and technical staff to raise welfare concerns and measures being taken to prevent a recurrence of the problems reported during the September camp.
Cherarkey’s request has been committed to the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare for consideration.
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament have stepped into the ongoing turmoil surrounding FKF, calling for the establishment of a normalisation committee in accordance with FIFA rules.
The MPs said such a committee could help resolve governance disputes that have disrupted the running of football in the country.
The call was made by Kiminini MP Kaikai Bissau, who requested a statement from the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture over the leadership, budget and regulatory challenges facing FKF.
“I rise to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture regarding the Governance disputes within the Football Kenya Federation and outstanding payments to Harambee Stars,” Bissau said.
The governance disputes within FKF have affected the commencement of the 2026–2027 Kenya Premier League season, with clubs facing financial pressures amid uncertainty over when the league will begin.
Bissau said club owners continued to incur expenses related to players’ upkeep, salaries and preparations despite the lack of a definite league commencement date.
“The cost of players’ upkeep, salaries, preparedness and preparation of the league continues to be incurred without definite league commencement date,” he said.
He said the situation had affected club owners, including his own club community, Bazoo Boys, where he serves as patron.
“The governance disputes have affected the commencement of football leagues as club owners continue to serve a heavy financial responsibility, including my own club community combined, Bazoo Boys, where I’m the patron,” Bissau said.
Beyond the domestic league, the parliamentary inquiry is also expected to examine administrative challenges affecting Harambee Stars.
Bissau raised concerns over unpaid allowances to national team players and pending work permits for McCarthy and members of his technical team.
“The situation risks undermining players’ welfare and morale, disrupting football development and affecting the country’s preparations for the upcoming international competitions,” he warned.
Bissau also proposed the establishment of a FIFA-sanctioned pathway to address the governance disputes within FKF.
He noted that while FIFA rules prohibit government interference in football administration, they provide for the formation of a normalisation committee to address certain governance challenges.
“Notably, according to the FIFA rules, while government interference is prohibited, a Normalisation Committee can be formed to address the current and destructive tendencies,” Bissau said.
The Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture has been tasked with providing answers on the nature and cost of the FKF governance disputes.
The committee is also expected to provide official timelines for the commencement of the Kenya Premier League season and establish the outstanding amounts owed to Harambee Stars players.
Other issues include the status of McCarthy’s work permit and measures being taken to ensure the disputes do not undermine Kenya’s preparations to co-host and compete in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
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