The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has provided clarity on why Harambee Stars players may not directly benefit from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prize money following their performance at the CHAN 2024 tournament.
Kenya reached the quarterfinals of CHAN 2024 before being eliminated by Madagascar. This achievement comes with prize money amounting to $450,000 (approximately Ksh 58 million). However, the federation has highlighted that several financial obligations must be addressed before any remaining funds can be considered for player distribution.
According to FKF, all player allowances for the tournament period, including the month-long camp in July, have already been settled, except for a few players whose payments will be processed in due course. In addition, bonuses from the presidency amounting to roughly Ksh 5 million per player and technical staff member were distributed promptly.
Despite these payments, the federation emphasized that certain sanctions imposed by CAF, including fines totaling nearly Ksh 13 million, must be addressed. Some cases are currently under appeal, but there is a stipulated 60-day period to settle these penalties. The exact amount and timing of the CHAN 2024 prize money from CAF are still pending official confirmation.
The FKF clarified that, overall, Harambee Stars’ allowances and bonuses, combined with other tournament-related earnings, amount to approximately Ksh 232 million significantly exceeding the CHAN prize money. Consequently, the federation will first prioritize urgent financial commitments and only then determine what portion, if any, of the prize money could be allocated to players.
FKF leadership stressed that while players and staff have already received substantial support, careful planning is necessary to ensure that all essential financial obligations, including CAF sanctions and operational costs, are fully met. Any remaining funds will be discussed and allocated once these priorities are addressed.
This approach underlines FKF’s intention to balance player welfare with the federation’s broader responsibilities, ensuring financial compliance and sustainability. While Harambee Stars’ achievement at CHAN 2024 is celebrated, the federation maintains that proper financial management remains a priority before distributing additional prize money.
