Benni McCarthy backed to stay as Kenya coach despite criticism

South African coach Benni McCarthy has been backed to remain in charge of Kenya despite concerns over his public comments and challenges surrounding the Harambee Stars setup.

Kenyan football journalist Eric Njiru believes McCarthy is unlikely to be dismissed, although he has urged the former Manchester United first-team coach to be more measured in his public statements.

McCarthy has come under scrutiny over work permit issues and outstanding allowances owed to Kenya players, highlighting some of the difficulties facing the national team.

In September, the 48-year-old revealed that he and members of his technical team had worked in Kenya for about 18 months without the required work permits.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) acknowledged the issue, with president Hussein Mohammed confirming that applications for the permits had been submitted.

McCarthy has also raised concerns over unpaid player allowances, with some Harambee Stars players reportedly going through several training camps without receiving the money owed to them.

Speaking to KickOff, Njiru said injuries had also affected McCarthy’s ability to work with a fully fit squad.

“On football matters, Benni has been disadvantaged by the fact that we have not had a fully fit squad since last year,” Njiru said.

“The squad is dependent on the injuries. We can only hope they recover on time [for the Africa Cup of Nations].”

Njiru also suggested that the financial implications of terminating McCarthy’s contract could make his dismissal difficult for the federation.

“Benni will still be the coach. If they fire him, he might sue FIFA, and the federation won’t have the funds to fire him,” he added.

Despite backing McCarthy to remain in the role, Njiru believes the coach needs to exercise greater restraint when addressing issues publicly.

“For me, he’s the least of the problems but he needs to stop running his mouth. Football is an emotional sport; you got to know how to talk to people,” he said.

McCarthy was appointed Kenya head coach in March 2025 and is preparing the Harambee Stars for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Kenya will co-host the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania, with the national team hoping to make progress under the South African coach ahead of the continental competition.