Benni McCarthy says Kenya coaching staff remain unpaid as Fifa intervention looms

Benni McCarthy says he and his technical staff are still waiting to be paid by the Football Kenya Federation, despite the Kenya players receiving some outstanding wages and bonuses after going on strike.

The former Bafana Bafana striker said he expected Fifa and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) eventually to intervene, but insisted his staff remained committed to their work.

McCarthy became Kenya coach in March 2025, alongside fellow South Africans Vasili Manousakis, the assistant coach, goalkeeper coach Moeneeb Josephs and performance coach Pilela Maposa. The team has produced mixed results during his tenure.

Speaking to internet channel SportyTV, McCarthy said unpaid salaries, bonuses and allowances had led the players to refuse training during their most recent camp.

“Nobody wants to come to camp and then you go on strike because players, coaches and technical staff haven’t been paid,” he said.

“Salaries, bonuses and allowances from three, four camps ago, already. And now, still, in every camp you come and people [haven’t been paid].

“That’s why the players ended up coming together as a team and saying until they receive what’s owed to them by the federation, they are going to be reluctant to train and play.”

Kenya opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in late September and early October with a 1-1 home draw against Eritrea, followed by a 1-0 defeat by Guinea away from home.

They then drew 0-0 with Rwanda in Kigali in a friendly during a camp in which they trained only once.

“We [went on] strike for almost the whole camp, in which we had one training session and I had to convince the players to train the day before the Eritrea game,” McCarthy said.

“We had a captain’s run and one-hour training session that was [really only] a walk-down.

“I wouldn’t allow the players to not play [the game] because I have never allowed that in my career.”

McCarthy said he persuaded the squad to prepare for the match and was pleased with their performance despite the lack of training.

“I convinced them to train the day before the game and play on the match day, where we did really well for a team that had not trained [fully] for one day,” he said.

“We didn’t get the win but we drew and missed 10, 15 opportunities.”

He added that the situation continued during the trip to Guinea, although the players eventually received allowances after pressure was applied to the federation and the ministry.

“But yeah, the technical staff, still nothing [paid],” McCarthy said.

The Harambee Stars, ranked 114th by Fifa, resume their Group D campaign against South Africa at Orlando Stadium on Friday at 6pm, before the teams meet again in Nairobi on Tuesday.

As co-hosts with Uganda and Tanzania, Kenya automatically qualify for the 2027 Afcon and are competing in the qualifiers for experience and competitive matches. One of South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea will progress from Group D.

“My job is always to go there and leave Kenya in a better position than I found them,” McCarthy said.

“Obviously Fifa and Caf will intervene in these situations.

“But we are professional enough that when we go there we do our jobs.”