Government Disburses Funds Following Presidential Pledge
Nairobi — The Kenyan government has officially fulfilled its commitment to clear the outstanding allowances owed to the Harambee Starlets, the national women's football team. This action follows a specific pledge made by President William Ruto on Tuesday. According to reports from Capital FM published on Wednesday evening, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi confirmed at Kandanda House that Ksh 10 million had been disbursed to the team as promised. The announcement stated that this sum was designated for facilitation purposes. In addition to these funds, an additional allocation of Ksh 10 million has been set aside specifically to clear the players' outstanding allowances. Speaking at Kandanda House on Wednesday evening, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi revealed details regarding the financial settlement. He stated that President Ruto had promised the girls they would receive 10 million for their facilitation and confirmed that this money had already been given to them. The principal secretary noted that while the initial payment was made as agreed upon by the president, there is a continued plan to support the team at different stages as part of motivation. Mwangi indicated that officials are currently working on an agreeable figure for future payments. He explained that if the Harambee Starlets qualify for finals, they intend to treat them similarly to how the national men's team was treated during CHAN. However, Mwangi specified that this treatment would be structured according to a formula yet to be finalized.
The financial settlement comes after a period of significant tension between the players and their administration.
Protest at Football Kenya Federation Headquarters
The announcement regarding the payment served as a resolution to a fever-pitched day that began with Harambee Starlets players storming Kandanda House, which serves as the headquarters for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The players were there demanding their allowances. Videos circulating on social media documented the unrest at the federation's offices. In these recordings, players can be seen waving twigs while chanting a specific message: 'No Wafcon! no France!'. This chant was interpreted as a clear declaration that the team would not honor their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) match scheduled against France. The protest highlighted the severity of the financial dispute. The players' actions were driven by long-standing demands for payment, which they felt had been neglected despite previous assurances from leadership at both the government and federation levels. The chant explicitly linked their refusal to participate in international competition with the lack of remuneration owed to them.
Details regarding the specific timeline and amounts involved are as follows:
- Total Disbursed for Facilitation: Ksh 10 million
- Funds Allocated for Arrears: Ksh 10 million
- Total Financial Commitment Confirmed: Ksh 20 million
Potential Reward Structure Under Review
Beyond clearing the immediate debts, the government is actively working on a reward structure for the team. This proposal mirrors the treatment afforded to the Harambee Stars during their recent continental tournament. Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi stated that they are working on an agreeable formula regarding this future support. The intent appears to be establishing a precedent where qualifying teams receive specific rewards, similar to those given to the men's team in previous campaigns. However, no final figures or conditions for these potential bonuses have been officially released yet. The situation underscores the ongoing relationship between federal sports administration and local football federations regarding funding mechanisms. The government has moved to address the immediate financial grievances of the women's squad after a direct confrontation at the FKF headquarters.
The players' demands were focused strictly on receiving their owed dues, which they claimed had been promised but not delivered prior to this intervention by President Ruto and Principal Secretary Mwangi. The resolution has effectively paused the immediate threat regarding the Wafcon match against France. The funds described as Ksh 10 million for facilitation were distinct from the additional Ksh 10 million allocated specifically to clear allowances, bringing the total confirmed disbursement in this phase of negotiations to twenty million Kenyan shillings. This financial injection aims to restore operational capacity and morale within the Harambee Starlets squad ahead of their international fixtures. The events at Kandanda House were described as a critical turning point where administrative promises met with direct action from the athletes. The government's subsequent move to pay both amounts represents an acknowledgment of the players' grievances regarding unpaid wages over a sustained period.
As the team prepares for upcoming competitions, including their participation in Wafcon against France, the financial situation has been regularized through these new disbursements. Officials maintain that further support will be contingent on performance and qualification outcomes, adhering to the agreeable formula currently under development by Sports Principal Secretary Mwangi's office.