NAIROBI. Benni McCarthy says most players have received outstanding allowances, but his technical team is still waiting, renewing scrutiny of Kenya’s preparations for Afcon 2027.
Kenya coach Benni McCarthy has renewed concerns over unpaid dues to his technical team, while insisting the dispute will not derail his commitment to improving Harambee Stars.
The South African says pressure on Football Kenya Federation and the Sports Ministry eventually secured allowances for most players, but his coaching staff remained unpaid.
His comments, made in an interview with Sporty TV on November 9, come ahead of Kenya’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against South Africa.
Reflecting on Kenya’s trip to Guinea, McCarthy said the uncertainty over payments had continued beyond the team’s opening qualifying assignment.
“Eventually, in dribs and drabs, most of the players ended up getting their allowances because enough pressure was put on the federation and the ministry to come good,” he said.
“But the coach and the technical team? Still nothing,” he added.
The remarks reopen a welfare dispute that disrupted Kenya’s preparations in September, when players reportedly declined to train over outstanding allowances.
McCarthy subsequently said he had persuaded the squad to train on the eve of the Eritrea match, leaving limited time for final preparations.
Earlier government assurances
The latest account requires clarification against an earlier statement from Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.
On September 24, the ministry said it had honoured financial commitments relating to previous national-team assignments, including outstanding technical-bench salaries.
According to Citizen, those commitments covered engagements in Zambia, South Africa and Turkey, alongside the under-20 team’s assignment in Tanzania.
The ministry also acknowledged that payments for subsequent assignments could still be pending, saying they were undergoing administrative processing with FKF.
McCarthy’s latest remarks do not specify the amount owed, the payment periods involved or whether the outstanding dues are the same obligations covered by that statement.
That distinction leaves an important question unresolved: which payments were cleared, and which remain outstanding for the technical team?
The September difficulties extended beyond money, FKF also acknowledged concerns about work permits for McCarthy and some foreign members of his staff.
The federation said it was working with government agencies to complete the documentation, while McCarthy argued that the delays affected his ability to remain in Kenya and monitor domestic football.
Football remains the priority
Despite his frustration, McCarthy says his responsibility to the players remains unchanged.
“At the end of the day, my job is to go out there and leave Kenya in a better position than I found it. That is what I’m going to strive to do.”
He also raised the prospect of intervention by football’s international governing bodies.
“The authorities will eventually come good, and they will have to pay because, obviously, Fifa and Caf will intervene in this situation.”
“But we are professional enough, when we go out there, we do our jobs. After football matches, we can fight for whatever it is we are fighting for,” he said.
“While we are there, we have a duty to make those players better and leave the country in a far better position, football-wise, than we found it.”
McCarthy was unveiled on March 3, 2025, replacing Engin Firat on a contract running through the 2027 Afcon, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
The former Manchester United attacking coach arrived with assistant Vasili Manousakis, goalkeeping coach Moeneeb Josephs and performance analyst Pilela Maposa.
His tenure has already produced an encouraging continental campaign, Kenya reached the quarter-finals on their African Nations Championship debut in August 2025.
Harambee Stars topped their group unbeaten before losing 4–3 on penalties to Madagascar following a 1–1 draw after extra time.
The immediate challenge is a meeting with McCarthy’s home country, Kenya visit South Africa at Orlando Stadium on November 13 before hosting the return fixture at Nyayo National Stadium on November 17.