Harambee Stars crisis deepens as players protest and work permit questions emerge
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy
Unpaid allowances and unresolved documentation issues cast a shadow over Kenya’s national team preparations.
By Levis Wangamati
Harambee Stars’ preparations for their upcoming international fixtures were thrown into disarray yesterday after players staged a protest over unpaid allowances and questions emerged about whether head coach Benni McCarthy and members of his technical team hold valid work permits to operate in Kenya.
The dual crisis — financial and administrative — has created an uncomfortable atmosphere in the national team camp at a moment when focus should squarely be on competitive preparation.
The players’ protest centred on allowances outstanding from previous national team engagements. Members of the squad expressed frustration over repeated delays in receiving payments owed from earlier camps, with the dispute eventually boiling over when players declined to train as scheduled. Football officials were forced to intervene, triggering emergency discussions between the players, Football Kenya Federation and government officials.
Harambee Stars striker Ryan Ogam confirmed that players received a portion of the money owed, though concerns remained over whether the amount was sufficient. Reports indicate some squad members had attended several camps without receiving their full allowances — suggesting the problem runs deeper than a single administrative delay and points to systemic weaknesses in how national team finances are managed.
McCarthy himself has not stayed silent. The South African coach publicly expressed frustration over the situation, confirming that some players had gone through multiple camps without the allowances they had been promised. His intervention placed additional pressure on administrators and brought wider attention to a dispute that might otherwise have been quietly managed behind closed doors. McCarthy has been clear: players representing Kenya should not be stepping onto the training pitch distracted by unpaid bills.
A separate and equally troubling issue surfaced when McCarthy revealed that he and members of his foreign technical staff had not yet secured the work permits required to operate legally in Kenya. The coach said the matter had become a pressing concern, as he had no wish to continue working in the country without the appropriate documentation.
The revelation raised immediate questions. McCarthy has been in charge of Harambee Stars since March 2025. The fact that the work permit issue remains unresolved months into his tenure points to a significant administrative failure. The consequences have already been practical: McCarthy and his technical team have had to leave Kenya between international assignments rather than remaining in the country to monitor domestic league matches and track potential call-ups. For a coach who has spoken openly about the importance of watching players in local competition, the disruption to his preparation process is not a minor inconvenience.
FKF acknowledged the work permit concerns and said the process was being handled in consultation with relevant government agencies. The federation indicated it was pursuing the necessary documentation and sought to reassure the technical team. It has also been involved in efforts to resolve the allowances dispute as the team prepares for its fixtures.
The federation now faces pressure on two fronts: settling outstanding player payments and ensuring the coaching staff are properly documented before further complications arise.
Harambee Stars eventually returned to training as efforts to restore calm within the camp continued. The resumption offered some relief after days of uncertainty. But a return to the training ground does not resolve the underlying issues. Outstanding allowances, incomplete documentation and the strained relationship between players and administrators will require concrete action — not reassurances — if the team is to maintain cohesion through its international campaign.
The timing could hardly be worse. Kenya’s supporters expect the national team to compete with focus and ambition. Instead, the build-up to the upcoming fixtures has been dominated by discussions about money, paperwork and accountability. These are not the conversations a national team should be having in camp.
The broader pattern is difficult to ignore. Questions surrounding the timely payment of player allowances and the management of foreign technical staff are not new to Kenyan football. The current crisis is the latest chapter in a longer story about the administrative challenges facing the sport in this country.
For Harambee Stars, the challenge now goes beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch. Players must prepare for competitive fixtures while the federation and government agencies work to put their house in order. Whether this episode becomes a temporary setback or the catalyst for genuine structural change in how Kenya manages its national team will depend entirely on what happens next.
For now, the focus returns to football — and the hope that those responsible for the administration of Harambee Stars rise to the moment.
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