Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has exposed a fresh crisis in the national team, revealing that players have gone for four to five camps without receiving their promised allowances.
McCarthy also disclosed that he and members of his foreign technical team have been working without Kenyan work permits for about one and a half years.
The revelations come just days before Kenya faces Eritrea in the opening round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
“For four to five camps, not receiving any 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?” McCarthy told reporters in Nairobi.
He said the situation had made it increasingly difficult to manage players who had not been paid.
“Therefore it becomes hard to manage players who have not been paid,” the South African tactician said.
McCarthy also explained why he normally leaves Kenya after national team assignments instead of remaining in the country between camps.
“It’s been one and a half years now in Kenya, but we don’t have work permits. We can’t work as illegal immigrants,” he said.
The former Manchester United coach said he did not want to risk being questioned by Kenyan authorities over his legal status.
“I don’t want to be questioned by authorities on why I am in another country illegally,” he said.
McCarthy said securing the necessary permits should be the responsibility of those who brought him and his technical team to Kenya.
“The people that deploy you must make sure you have them,” he said.
An FKF official said the players’ allowances are paid directly by the government, while the work permit issue remains “a work in progress”, adding that previous coaches had faced a similar challenge.
A Ministry of Sports official familiar with the matter said approval for the allowances had been done “several weeks ago” and the payments should reflect soon.
The latest revelations come after reports that Harambee Stars players had declined to train over outstanding allowances, accommodation and other welfare concerns.
According to FKF Head of Projects and National Teams Athanus Obango, players were demanding Sh80,000 each in allowances linked to previous matches against Senegal and Lesotho.
Kenya is scheduled to host Eritrea at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday before travelling to Conakry to face Guinea on October 1.
The developing dispute has put preparations for the two matches under fresh scrutiny, with McCarthy calling for intervention before the situation worsens.
