Behind the Whistle: Kenya’s Football Struggles in the Shadow of Power

Football is a big deal in Kenya, and everyone seems to love it. The stadiums are filled with energy, young talent wants the best for themselves, and jerseys are sold in their thousands. But there is something unusual that seems to happen: progress halts, there are changes that come with new scandals, and federations seem to change hands quite often. What really goes on behind the curtain? Why is there such a strong connection between politics and the sport? We tell the story in this piece.

When Football Meets Power

Kenya’s football history is intricately entwined within its politics, especially since the 2000s, when government meddling prompted repeated FIFA warnings. The national squad nearly suffered suspension over political meddling in 2004 and 2011. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF), ostensibly an autonomous body, has had to grapple with political shifts.

In 2021, corruption allegations levied against the FKF came to the attention of Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, after which she dismissed the board. This prompted a suspension from international football for Kenya by FIFA until November 2022. The fans were shocked, especially those who earned money from football betting Kenya, because they understood the game of their teams in international matches. The problem is that all this meant the Harambee Stars were unable to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in 2023. As a result, Kenya suffered the backlash of millions in unpaid sponsorships, dormant careers for many athletes, and uninspired football fans.

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Inside the Federation Walls

FKF is both the heart and the face of Kenyan football. However, a battle over leadership has left terrible gashes. Nick Mwendwa became the president in 2016 under the big banners of promised transparency, development of the youth, and a major upgrade in infrastructure. However, by 2021, he was propped with the accusation of corruption over missing funds of KSh513 million (~3.6 million dollars).

FKF forensics uncovered a lack of auditing, lack of accountability, and over-inflated budgets. For example, in 2019, FKF claimed to have overspent KSh244 million on the team’s preparations, yet players were complaining of poor accommodations and unpaid allowances. The discrepancy between the documents and reality was definitely shocking.

Who’s Pulling the Strings?

In Kenya, sports and politics intersect, and the boundaries are rather vague. The sport’s future is determined by important business leaders. Here, we’ll discuss four of them:

1. Ministry of Sports: Responsible for financing national and international competitions and sports activities. Also, their FKF policies have an impact on the structure and activities of FKF.
2. FIFA: While it supports self-governance, it has interfered in the past by suspending Kenya on two occasions over the last twenty years. It remains a key sponsor of FKF.
3. Corporate Sponsors: BetKing, SportPesa, and Odibets have invested millions into Kenyan football, and as a result, they exercise unofficial influence on the federation’s strategic decisions.
4. Political Figures: Football is a popularity contest during elections. Politicians routinely support particular candidates for the FKF elections and use sports to garner votes.

These groups do more than just fund the game; they guide its direction, which, at times, can be dangerously off course.

Promises vs. Progress

In 2020, when Nick Mwendwa stepped into office, he rolled out the “FKF Vision 2020” plan. The plan targeted the construction of 290 sub-county leagues, women’s football programs at the national level, and the upgrading of existing stadiums. Sounds good in theory, right? But what was accomplished?

Fewer than 120 of the 290 sub-county leagues became operational. Kipchoge Keino and Stadion Moi Kasarani had some renovations, but these yards did not meet FIFA standards. The women’s league started, but inconsistent funding resulted in numerous matches being canceled and teams left unpaid. By 2020, only 30% of these goals were accomplished.

This does not mean everything was a failure. There were positive outcomes in the CECAFA U-20 in 2020, with Kenya hosting the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. However, these victories felt more like sparks rather than a sustained increase.

Players Caught in the Crossfire

The political drama incurred great losses for the players. Kenya’s star striker, Michael Olunga, suffered as he was unable to participate in games that would allow him to compete and maintain his national record, as well as get scouted. Emerging stars such as Benson Omalla and Eric Zakayo lacked crucial international exposure.

The club-level disarray was just as bad. In 2021, the FKF Premier League was thrown into chaos because of fights over who was in charge. Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards had to cancel their training camps due to their sponsors not getting on board in time. Even in the women’s game, some top scorers like Mwanahalima “Dogo” Adam had their seasons prematurely cut short due to incompetent management.

These issues also trickled down to youth academies. More than 20 amateur football clubs reported failing to get the necessary money or even basic equipment in 2022. This was heartbreaking for a country with more than 1,200 youth players registered under 18 years of age.

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Fans Demand Change

The followers from Kenya are beginning to voice their concerns. Be it through social media or live events, they send a singular message: They want action. They raised their voices and went way beyond the stands:

• Petitions and Protests: In 2022, over 12,000 people signed a petition attempting to secure independent audits of the FKF.
• Digital Movements: Fans rallied together on X (formerly Twitter) around the hashtags #SaveKenyaFootball and #FKFReform, trending them across the platform.
• Support for Local Clubs: Instead of being idle while the national system failed, fans started showing up to lower division matches, giving their support to the clubs.
• Fan Associations: The Gor Mahia Fan Club, among others, has organized meetings with FKF officials and advocates for greater youth and transparency in the FKF budget.

Fans are not just spectators anymore. They are active participants demanding more entertaining games.

Can the Game Break Free?

Is there hope? Yes, but only if passion beats politics. Kenya’s football future doesn’t just rest in stadiums. It also lies in classrooms, boardrooms, and even lockers. An abundance of football talent exists in the country, and so does the love for the game. All it needs is a nurturing environment.