The Turkish gaffer has decided to escalate his salary dispute with FKF to FIFA after months of silence and unfulfilled promises.
Money can be a driving force, but for former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat, it has become the center of a contentious battle with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Firat, who recently stepped down after failing to guide Kenya to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, is determined to pursue legal action through FIFA to recover Ksh 75 million owed to him in accrued salary.
The demand notice, sent to FKF’s new president Hussein Mohammed, had given the federation 14 days to settle the payment. With no response forthcoming, Firat has expressed his disappointment, revealing that FKF has neither made an offer nor communicated any intent to resolve the issue.
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Kenyan midfielder is rumoured to be on the verge of a record-breaking move to a top European club in a multimillion deal.
The lack of progress, coupled with his decision to resign, has painted a grim picture of the federation’s financial and operational challenges.
“Until now there is nothing from FKF side, nothing, no answer, no offer, no nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, and I gave it all to my agent so I think now at this moment, I need only to give authorization to the lawyer and then it will go like these because it must be done by the lawyer and I see there is no development in Kenya,” said Firat in an interview with PD Daily.
Firat’s comments highlight a broader issue of mismanagement within FKF and its inability to meet contractual obligations.
“So in detail, on Saturday was FKF elections and on Sunday I sent the termination of the contract, and on Wednesday the new FKF president Hussein (Mohammed) called me, and I told him that I am not in Kenya and I explained to him the situation and that is all, after that I did not hear anything anymore,” explained Firat.
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According to Firat, his agent also communicated with Mohammed to clarify the situation and proposed involving legal counsel to address the debt.
However, FKF’s silence has left the coach no choice but to escalate the matter to FIFA. Firat hinted that the federation’s internal issues, including changes in Sports Cabinet Secretaries, have compounded the mess.
Firat was particularly critical of former Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen, blaming him for reversing initiatives launched by his predecessor, Ababu Namwamba.
“This short term this CS (Murkomen), really destroyed everything including Talanta Hela initiative, I don’t even know why he has stopped so many things, because he was a good friend to Ababu (Namwamba), but he has destroyed everything that Namwamba had done, it is very interesting what is going on.”
The coach’s grievances are not limited to his unpaid salary. Firat’s tenure with Harambee Stars offered a mix of personal growth and challenges.
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Despite the financial strain, he opted to stay in the role longer than many would under similar circumstances.
“As a coach, sometimes you choose your options based on what suits you best,” Firat explained in an interview with Daily Sports.
“Like you go for the money, or you can go maybe where you feel more comfortable. Or you look for a challenge. I had been in Asia and Europe before, so for me, it was only a question of time as a challenge, also to experience Kenya. It gives me a lot of experience, both good and bad.”
Firat’s emotional connection to the Harambee Stars players was a key reason he refrained from immediately taking legal action over his salary.
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He believed in achieving certain goals with the team, despite the challenges. However, with promises left unfulfilled and trust eroded, his patience has run out.
“Normally, you know, everybody would go to FIFA and gives a contract here,” said Firat. “But like I said, I had an emotional connection to the players. I want first to achieve some goals and after this, I will decide what to do about it. Because even as I said before, there are too many empty promises.”
The non-payment issue shines a light on the systemic problems within FKF, particularly its reliance on government funding, which often comes with delays and inconsistencies. Firat contrasted this with federations in Europe and the U.S., where government support is not a factor, yet financial issues are minimal.
Kenya’s failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON marked a disappointing end to Firat’s tenure. The Harambee Stars finished third in Group J, trailing winners Cameroon and Namibia. Despite the setback, Firat’s experience in Kenya has provided valuable lessons, albeit with a bitter ending.
The coach’s move to seek FIFA’s intervention could set a precedent for handling similar cases of unpaid salaries in Kenyan football.
