Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is facing heavy criticism following his decision to award the Kenya U20 Rising Stars football team Ksh 1.8 million after their historic qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U20.
While this is the first time Kenya has qualified for the tournament, a milestone in the country’s football journey, many feel the reward falls far short of what the team deserves for their hard work.
The Rising Stars reached the final of the CECAFA U20 tournament, which also served as the qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON U20. They lost 2-1 to Tanzania, despite initially taking the lead through Hassan Beja.
Tanzania responded with an equalizer from Valentino Mashaka, and Sheikhan Khamis scored the decisive goal for the hosts. Despite the loss, Kenya’s second-place finish secured a ticket to the AFCON U20, marking a major achievement for the young team.
However, the Ksh 1.8 million reward, meant to be shared among the players and the technical staff, has sparked widespread outrage. Former Harambee Stars forward Boniface Ambani was one of the most vocal critics, taking to social media to voice his disappointment with the amount.
“CS Sports Kipchumba Murkomen, kindly stop joking around with these boys,” Ambani said. “Silver medalists, the best you can give the entire squad is Ksh 1.8M? Seriously? If they share that amongst themselves and the technical bench, that’s less than Ksh 40,000 each. The government can do better than this. Two weeks outside the country, fighting for our flag, and all they walk away with is 40K? No way.”
Ambani questioned how the low reward would motivate the young players, especially those who had come from abroad to represent the country.
“Some of these boys came all the way from Spain and other places. So they go back with what? What motivates them to come back?” he asked.
Saudi-based Kenyan journalist Ustadh Okello Kimathi echoed Ambani’s sentiments, criticizing the disparity between the treatment of athletes and government officials.
“So you work hard as a Rising Star to qualify Kenya for its first U20 AFCON, and the Sports Minister gives the entire squad a mere Ksh 1.8 million. Seriously? In a country where the Deputy President’s office has over 100 staff members with hefty perks? The disparity is appalling,” Kimani stated.
Football enthusiast Afande Cele also weighed in, stressing that qualifying for AFCON was a significant achievement that deserved a more meaningful reward.
“The reward should be something even the parents can smile about. Ksh 1.8M means each boy will take home roughly 45K for qualifying to AFCON U20, and we should not forget that even members of the technical staff are in it. These are mere peanuts. We can do better than this as a country.”
Mitume Baba Yao, a renowned photojournalist and supporter of St. Antony’s Boys Kitale expressed his concern over the state of sports management in Kenya since Murkomen assumed office.
“When you compare this to the Ksh 10 million that former CS Namwamba awarded our Junior Starlets for qualifying for the World Cup, it raises serious concerns about the current state of sports management in Kenya. Since Murkomen took over, we have seen a drastic decline in support for our athletes.”
Amid the growing criticism, some fans have sought to offer a more balanced perspective. Green Commandos fan Collins Owino suggested
“To me, it’s not bad. Maybe funds were not available, and we must appreciate the government’s efforts. They rarely send air tickets for the U20 squad, at least for now they do.”
However, others, like football enthusiast Rodgers Ouma, were less forgiving; “I think this was just a motivation token, not allowances for the team. But if this is the whole package, then CS Murkomen should vacate that office with immediate effect,” Ouma said.
The backlash highlights growing dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Sports’ handling of rewards and support for national athletes. The Kenya U20 team’s qualification for AFCON U20 is a landmark achievement, but the debate surrounding their reward raises broader questions about how Kenya values and supports its football players.
