The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has cleared the air over allegations that the Harambee Stars have not received their Ksh250 million payout close to a year after they represented the country.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Saturday, April 18, FKF refuted media the reports and insisted that the money had been paid, save for a Ksh10 million match-winning bonus which had not been factored in the government allocation to the AFCON competitions in Egypt.
"It is a standard practice that preparatory budgets factor in costs attributable to the preparation and maintenance of the team including the players' allowances in the build-up and during the tournament.
"In this context, the Football Kenya Federation wishes to state that match bonuses and athletes' rewards for exemplary performances are not factored in in the preparation budgets," FKF clarified.
FKF indicated that on June 19, 2019, the Ministry of sports and the FKF agreed on a Ksh10 million match win bonus for every win and requested for the Ministry’s concurrence and approval of the same, after which the team clobbered Tanzania but lost to Algeria and Senegal.
"Following Harambee Stars win 3-2 win over Tanzania the federation on July 9, 2019, we wrote a reminder to the Ministry of Sports requesting that Ksh10 million be advanced towards the payment of the match bonus as had been communicated," the statement further reads.
FKF also stated that after receiving a Ksh50 million bonus from the government for qualifying for the AFCON 2019, they deducted it from the Ksh244 million kitty and disbursed to each player and the technical bench as per the agreement.
A further Ksh750,000 per player was reportedly paid as allowances to players who participated in the Afcon tournament, amounts that were reportedly disbursed to players during the camp in France and the final tournament in Egypt.
"In light of the aforementioned, the federation without prejudice or malice wishes to state that the Ksh10 million win bonus against Tanzania is yet to be received from the Ministry and/or paid to all players and members of the Technical bench," FKF wrote.
The Federation, however, informed that in light of the strain that the Covid -19 pandemic has had on government resources and finances, it has proactively halted engagements on the outstanding bonuses until the wave washes over.
It also appealed for calm and understanding from the affected parties as they engaged in negotiations with the relevant parties to ensure that a more amicable solution is reached in the future.
"The federation is fully aware of the difficult situation the Covid -19 pandemic has brought to the sporting community, including football and the 23 players and members of the Harambee Stars Technical bench who honourably represented Kenya in the 2019 AFCON.
"It, however, calls for decorum and continued understanding, this even as it seeks to find lasting solutions with the Ministry of Sports in regard to the outstanding bonuses once the Covid -19 situation is contained in the country and normalcy resumes," the statement concluded.
