Chaotic league, obscure broadcast deal, sponsors flee and FKF chief’s day in court

Kenyan football fans will remember 2021 as the year when the top-tier league was dogged by a lot of controversy. 

From the criteria used to determine Kenya’s representatives to the CAF Champions League, the relegation of Zoo Kericho, purchase of the trophy for league winners, boycott of “Mashemeji” derby by giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, withdrawal of sponsors, and the list is endless. 

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF), which has since been disbanded, was in charge of the 2020/21 top-tier league which ended on August 23 this year.

This after FKF, under Nick Mwendwa, declined to extend the Kenya Premier League’s (KPL) four- year contract that ended in the 2019/20 season. KPL is a private company that was mandated to run the Kenyan Premier League. 

Other leagues including the second-tier National Super League (NSL), the Kenyan Women Premier League and other lower leagues, however, had no major issues. 

The year started on the wrong footing. Leading media houses boycotted the coverage of all leagues after Nation Media Group colleague Sila Kiplagat and I, together with journalists from other media houses, were barred by FKF from covering a match between Gor Mahia and Ulinzi Stars at Nyayo National Stadium on December 12, 2020. 

The boycott lasted 32 days, and it was lifted on January 16 after a meeting between the Sports Journalist Association (SJAK) and the then FKF secretary Barry Otieno. However, the frosty relationship between the federation and the media continued.

On March 26, 2020, the season was halted abruptly after President Uhuru Kenyatta suspended all sporting activities to contain the spread of Covid-19. This was prompted by a surge in coronavirus cases in five counties; Nairobi, Nakuru, Kajiado, Machakos and Kiambu. 

After 50 days of no activity, football matches resumed on May 14, but behind closed doors. Clubs had to grapple with congested fixtures with teams playing two or three matches in one week. 

In the same month, the world football governing body (Fifa) relegated Zoo Kericho from top-flight football to the National Super League.

The club was found guilty of fixing their league match against Wazito which they lost 4-1 on March 1, 2020 at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos the previous season. The club appealed the ban, but the attempt was futile, and the club is currently participating in NSL.

On May 17, FKF announced that Kenya’s representatives in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League would be team that was top of the league on June 30.

Ideally, the league winners usually earn a direct ticket to the CAF Champions League, but in this case, the stoppage in March delayed completion of the league.

The decision was opposed by half of the clubs including the then defending champions Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

Tusker held off their toughest challenger KCB and got the slot. Gor’s dominance ended, after having competed in the continental championship for four years. 

Tusker, coached by Robert Matano, thrashed Ulinzi Stars 4-1 at Nakuru Showground on June 30, as KCB who were also eying the ticket, won 2-1 against Nzoia Sugar. But the bankers’ win was not enough to topple the brewers from the top spot. 

Three days earlier on June 28, Thika Queens ended Vihiga Queens' three -year dominance to win the Kenyan Women Premier League title at Nakuru Showground.

Thika Queens, under the tutelage of Benta Achieng’, beat Gaspo 3-0 in the play-offs final to lift their second league title.

Harambee Starlets’ forward Mwanahalima “Dogo” Jereko won the Best Player of the Season Award and also bagged the Golden Boot Award in a season in which the league was run in zonal format.

However, this season, the format is different as it is being run in a unified format.

Back to men’s football. Then FKF president Mwendwa on July 29 unveiled a new league trophy which he said cost Sh5 million.

The cost raised eyebrows, and football stakeholders were dissatisfied with the design of the trophy.

Fans took to social media platforms to express their displeasure.

On July 31, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards — for the first time ever — boycotted the popular “Mashemeji” derby.

The giants of Kenyan football demanded to be paid their FKF Betway Cup cash. Gor beat their arch-rivals AFC 4-1 on post-match penalties after a 0-0 deadlock in regular time during the FKF Betway Cup final on July 4.

Gor, who booked a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup, were entitled to Sh2 million, while runners-up Leopards were to receive Sh1 million.

As a result of the boycott, Mwendwa fined Gor Sh4 million and Leopards Sh6 million, which was being deducted from their monthly grants.

The two teams were also docked three points each. After the stand off, FKF later paid Gor and Leopards their Betway Cup earnings.

And when the Football Kenya Federation Premier League was left with six matches to go before the end of the season, Nigerian betting firm BetKing announced that it had ended its five-year Sh1.2 billion sponsorship on August 6.

BetKing said that the deal was ended on mutual agreement. 

The firm had penned what was touted by FKF to be a juicy deal in which all the 18 teams in the league would get a Sh890,000 grant per month. But clubs perpetually struggled with financial constraints. 

On August 23, Tusker silenced critics when they won the league and their 12th title while defending champions Gor Mahia finished a distant eighth. 

With Zoo Kericho already out of the top-tier league, Western Stima were relegated, while Vihiga United who lost 2-1 to Kenya Police, dropped back to NSL.

On the other hand, FC Talanta were promoted to the Kenyan Premier League after winning the NSL together with runners-up Vihiga Bullets.

In the lower leagues, Mara Sugar and Naivas were promoted to after emerging winners of the FKF Division One League Zone B and A, respectively.

In the women’s game, Bunyore Starlets and Kangemi Ladies were promoted to the Kenyan Women Premier League after topping in the FKF Division One Zone B and A, respectively.

After a string of poor performances by national football teams, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed ordered an audit of FKF books on October 27.

After receiving a report from the probe team, the CS disbanded the federation and appointed a Caretaker Committee headed by retired Justice Aaron Ringera on November 15 to oversee the running of football for six months then pave the way for fresh football elections.

Thereafter, Mwendwa was arrested over allegations of misuse of public funds, but he was not charged and was subsequently released on a Sh4 million cash bail. 

The woes bedeviling FKF continued as Chinese broadcast firm StarTimes terminated their partnership with the federation citing wrangles. 

StarTimes opted out of a seven-year deal signed on November 29, 2020 worth Sh110 million per season. Each of the 18 league clubs were to receive Sh8 million per season until the time the contract was to run out.

Mwendwa was rearrested again, and on November 29, he was charged with fraudulent use of government funds and was released on bail.

The following day, he stepped aside as the FKF boss and handed over his duties to his deputy in the disbanded federation Doris Petra. 

Heading into the New Year, the Caretaker Committee will still run all the leagues. Owing to lack of sponsors, all the top clubs in both the Kenyan Premier League amd Kenyan Women Premier League will receive a Sh300,000 grant from the government, while FKF Division one clubs and NSL will get Sh250,000.

This year, Posta Rangers, Western Stima, Mathare United, Ulinzi Stars, AFC Leopards, Nairobi City Stars, Kakamega Homeboyz, Gor Mahia parted ways with their coaches.

The sackings began on February 2 with Western Stima, then in the Kenyan Premier League dismissed Paul Ogai due to a string of poor results.

Juma Abdallah was immediately appointed to take up his role. However, the veteran tactician (now with Vihiga Bullets) failed to rescue the club from the axe.

On February 4, the same fate befell Posta Rangers coach Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo (now Gor Mahia assistant coach) and his position was taken by Stanley Okumbi.

On February 9, 13-time champions AFC Leopards appointed Belgium tactician Patrick Aussems as the club’s new coach, after Anthony “Modo” Kimani exited and joined coastal side Bandari. 

Former Gor Mahia assistant coach Patrick Odhiambo, then with Kakamega Homeboyz, and Gor Mahia’s Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto also exited in May and July, respectively, with Bernard Mwalala and Mark Harrison occupying their positions.

Nicholas Muyoti was appointed Nairobi City Stars at the start of the season after Bosnian Sanjin Alagic left the club on mutual consent in July. 

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