Sometime in 2016, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced that it would implement a requirement by both CAF and FIFA to have clubs licensed before they are allowed to take part in both the top tier and second tier leagues.The requirement would see clubs forced to adhere to a number of requirements to prove their ability to participate in the two leagues.Key among the requirements was the need for clubs to be financially stable, have an operating office, infrastructure as well as employ relevant personnel.This was thought to be the magic pill that would cure the then troubled local football scene.Despite their massive following and tradition local clubs like AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia continued to be run in an ad hoc manner and it was believed implementing the club licensing rules would force the two and others to adopt a professional approach.But what happened? Despite the fanfare around the matter not much happened. Some clubs who knew they could not pass the stringent rules fought its implementation. Mama mboga, boda boda riders come to the aid of struggling Vihiga BulletsWorse, a former FKF chairman sued the federation and the courts agreed with him and stopped the implementation of the rules.From then onwards, the federation lacked the will to implement the rules and since then clubs are allowed to take part in the league whether they can afford it or not.Today, the top tier league is a pale shadow of what it should be. Over the years, some clubs have been unable to pay their players and some like Chemelil Sugar and Sony who used to rule Kenyan football have wound up.Then moneybags like Wazito and Sofapaka have followed suit as their fortunes have dwindled and are today a pale shadow of their former selves.It does not seem to get better as the years go by. The recent decision by Vihiga Bullets to award Sofapaka a walk-over was proof enough that club licensing needs to be re-introduced and strictly at that. The team is under the stewardship of former Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga. They nearly missed another league match against AFC Leopards and had to be bailed out by fans who fundraised for them to travel to Nairobi. Financially troubled Vihiga Bullets set to issue a walkover after they fail to show up in their clash against Sofapaka that was to be played at Kasarani Annex#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/iI7GiOYUtJ— Ochieng’ Stephen (@soo_ochieng) January 28, 2023 After the match against Leopards, Vihiga Bullets did not have money to return home and had to be bailed out again.This action not only lower the dignity of the league but open up the players to the temptation of match-fixing as they are keen to survive and maybe tempted to take money to throw away fixtures.Last season, Mathare United had almost similar problems and it does not seem to have got better this time around. The team has yet to play outside Nairobi, something their weak financial muscles will not be able to support and they may be forced to hand walk-overs. To make matters worse the league itself does not have a title sponsor.Perhaps the best thing would be to fully implement the club licensing rules and save the few remaining clubs from going down the drain.
