Kenya national team Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat would be paid a cool Sh 61,512,500 (approximately 475,000 USD) if Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moves to terminate his contract.
There have been calls by a section of fans and the Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to have the former Moldova coach fired after he failed to take Harambee Stars to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco.
However, People Sports sought to know the cost of firing the under-fire Firat. A top FKF official, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter confirmed Firat, who earns 25,000 USD a month (approximately Ksh3,237,500) is owed salary arrears accrued for 11 months.
Should FKF move to terminate his services, they will have to pay him Ksh35,612,500 (approximately 275,000 USD) for the eleven months. With his contract supposed to end in June 2025, the federation will further be forced to pay Firat Sh 25.9 million (200,000 USD) for the eight months for breach of contract which brings the total to around Sh 61.5 million.
“As we speak, Firat is owed 11 months salary, he earns 25, 000 USD per month and if the federation terminates his contract which is supposed to end in June 2025, then the country will have to clear his pending dues and also pay him for the eight months remaining in his contract,” the source told People Sports.
Kenya’s bid to participate in a seventh AFCON tournament suffered a blow after they finished third in Group J of the qualifiers. Cameroon and Zimbabwe qualified from the group after finishing first and second respectively.
Despite being drawn in a relatively easy group, Kenya managed one win, three draws and two defeats to finish with six points, eight fewer than the Indomitable Lions.
They drew 0-0 against Zimbabwe Warriors in their group opener before edging out the Brave Warriors of Namibia 2-1. However, their qualification campaign took a nose dive after suffering back-to-back defeats against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. They lost 4-1 in the away game against the five-time African champions and lost 1-0 in the home fixture.
In a recent interview, Cabinet Secretary for Sports Kipchumba Murkomen hinted that Firat will leave his role having failed to take Kenya to Morocco.
I am aware that in the agreement the FKF signed with the coach was that if he doesn’t qualify for the AFCON that relationship is disengaged,” said Murkomen.
“Since we were the ones who were funding the coach as a Ministry, we will upon the period being attained and the circumstances that have befallen the coach, as a result of failing to qualify, it is rather obvious that of course we will implement that section of the law and we will not remit any other funds beyond the period that was agreed.”
The former Moldova coach has so far managed 23 matches since replacing Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, managing seven wins, seven draws and nine defeats.
His first game in charge saw Kenya suffer a 5-0 defeat against Mali in a World Cup qualifier before he lost 1-0 to the same side. Kenya then drew 1-1 against Uganda and Firat got his first win – 2-1 – against Rwanda.
