Harambee Stars players go on strike over allowances as Eritrea land for Afcon qualifier

By  Cecil Odongo

Reporter

Nation Media Group

Kenya’s Harambee Stars players have boycotted training for their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Group “D” opening match against Eritrea, scheduled for Saturday at Nyayo Stadium, the Nation Sports has established.

The team reported to camp on Tuesday in Nairobi, but players declined to train, demanding allowances and better treatment when they are in the national team.

Football Kenya Federation Head of Projects and National Teams Athanus Obango on Wednesday said that players were demanding an Sh80,000 allowance per player for the Senegal and Lesotho games.

“The issue is that the Senegal allowance is long overdue and they also want the allowance for the Lesotho game. That per player is around Sh80,000,” said Obala.

“The responsibility of paying the allowances of the players lies with the government and not FKF and we hope things will be sorted out. Some of the players who are striking were not even called up for the Lesotho and Senegal games and they are saying they are in solidarity with their colleagues,” added Obala.

“Only a few of those in the current squad played those two matches, and they have a right to get their allowances. However, from what I know, some are being pushed by outsiders to paralyse the national team in their fight against FKF leadership. I’m not part of that strike,” a player, who did not want to be named, told Nation Sport.

Kenya played Lesotho in back-to-back friendly international matches on June 4 and June 27 this year at Lukas Moripe Stadium, in Johannesburg, South Africa, drawing 1-1 and losing 4-1.

On November 8, 2025, Stars were thrashed 8-0 by Senegal in another friendly match at Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey.

Harambee Stars coach South African Benni McCarthy is expected to hold a press conference later on Wednesday over the players’ strike.

Last week McCarthy named a 24-man squad composed mainly of foreign-based players for the game.

After Eritrea, Stars will play Guinea on October 1 Conakry. The other nation in the group is South Africa

Eritrea arrived in the country on Tuesday and have been training at Police Sacco stadium.

Kenya, as co-host, are guaranteed a spot in the 2027 finals and are playing in the qualifiers to maintain their match fitness.

This is not the first time Harambee Stars players are going on strike over allowances.

One famous instance was in 2005, when the team went on strike over allowance payments and refused to board their flight to Kigali for the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

The allowance issue was resolved but the team ended up being kicked out of the tournament after arriving late.

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