Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has launched a scathing critique of the administrative governance surrounding the Kenyan national team, lifting the lid on months of unpaid salaries, unfulfilled player allowances, and administrative negligence that has since threatened the squad unity.
Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, the 48-year-old former Porto and South Africa striker expressed deep frustration over off-pitch distractions, warning that the continuous failure to honor contractual obligations is severely undermining morale as Kenya prepares for international assignments.
McCarthy highlighted that several senior players have attended up to five consecutive national team camps without receiving their promised stipends and allowances.
He noted that while patriotism drives players to wear the national jersey, financial neglect makes it difficult to maintain professionalism.
“For four to five camps, not receiving a cent of what was promised, of course, as a human being you will be like, is it worth it? Is it okay for the national team?”
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McCarthy has backed the athletes maintaining that professional football remains the primary livelihood for many of the footballers present
“We all started playing football for the love and the passion, it was not about money. But when you have a gift, people are willing to pay a lot of money for it. Professional football is also their livelihood.”
The frustration within the national team setup extends directly to the technical staff. McCarthy disclosed that neither he nor his backroom staff which includes assistants Vasili Manousakis and Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani have been paid their salaries for months.
“It becomes a problem when my technical bench and I have not been paid salaries for months. Nobody in the world works for free. We all need to be paid after work.Especially when you work in a foreign country. We signed contracts to work, and it is only fair that we honour the contracts, including payment of salaries.”
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The ongoing financial uncertainty have begun directly impacting squad selection. McCarthy voiced his disappointment over a growing trend where players decline national team call-ups using minor or non-existent injuries to avoid camp.
“Some players use non-existent injuries or flimsy excuses to decline call-ups because they feel the national team environment is too stressful or financially unrewarding.
When a player feels they are not going to be paid or that conditions in camp will put their club career at risk, they start finding excuses not to travel. You hear someone has a minor knock, but two days later they are playing 90 minutes for their club.”
Kenya will host Eritrea this Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium before travelling to face Guinea on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
These fixtures mark the first two matches of the calendar year’s qualification window before Kenya resumes duties in November, where a two legged clash against South Africa awaits.
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