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At long last! Harambee Stars train after week-long protest over allowances
25th September, 2026 11:01 AM
Harambee Stars have officially arrived at the Nyayo National Stadium for their first training session ahead of the crucial AFCON 2027 qualifiers, marking a temporary reprieve for an ongoing pay saga between the players and the government through the Ministry of Sports.
Friday’s session will be their first and only training session before facing the Red Sea Camels on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in the qualifiers.
After the Eritrea clash, Stars will play Guinea away in Conakry on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry. Kenya was placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea in the draw for the PAMOJA 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Truce at last!
The contingent was led by head coach Benni McCarthy and his technical bench members, while the playing squad included the Spain-based duo of Valencia defender Amos Wanjala and Real Sociedad’s Job Ochieng.
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, reports emerged from the Harambee Stars camp suggesting that the players had downed their tools due to unpaid allowances for more than five matches.
The go-slow prompted coach Benni McCarthy’s concerns, with the South African gaffer insisting that players’ welfare is very important and comes first.
He also implored relevant authorities to intervene and salvage the situation ahead of Saturday’s assignment.
“For me, the players come first before anyone else. Players’ welfare is more important. Yes, the federation is important, the coach and the technical team are important, but the people that walk on that pitch when the whistle blows are the most important,” he said.
“When you want to give everything for your country, but you are promised you are going to get your allowance, and it goes to three, four and five different camps and you have not received your allowance, it becomes difficult. These players do not earn what Manchester United players earn, so when they receive their allowance, it contributes to something,” McCarthy said.
A day later, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports came out to confirm honouring its financial commitments to the players and technical staff following a training boycott over concerns about unpaid allowances.
Some payments still pending
Despite the clarification, the ministry acknowledged that some payments relating to subsequent assignments could still be pending.
“Any payments relating to subsequent assignments that may still be pending are undergoing the requisite administrative processes in consultation with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF),” it said.
The statement did not specify the amount involved in the pending payments.
