Suba South MP Caroli Omondi has faulted the government’s handling of the housing units and cash rewards given to Harambee Stars, warning that the lack of transparency risks creating anxiety among athletes and undermining trust in how Kenya rewards sporting excellence.

Speaking during a talk show aired by a local television station on Monday, August 18, 2025, Tuesday, Omondi raised questions about the process used to allocate the two-bedroom affordable units announced for the national football team. He said the decision was unclear and called for a proper mechanism to be established to guarantee fairness and accountability across all sporting disciplines.

“Raila donated Ksh500,000, I believe is from his pocket. I don’t think the houses should be given out for free; somebody should pay, and the players should also apply in the normal way and the normal process followed,” Omondi said.

He argued that rewarding athletes should not be based on ad hoc pronouncements, but rather through clear structures that specify the source of funds and the criteria for disbursement.

“The payment should be acknowledged to have come from somewhere, e.g. sports fund, because there is a mechanism for that,” Omondi stated.

The legislator emphasised that without a clear framework, Kenyans are left in the dark about the origin of the money and the criteria for allocation, which risks creating confusion and resentment.

“There should be a proper mechanism to reward sportspeople, even if the resident announces that this and that will happen to reward someone who has excelled in sport, people will know the criteria used,” he said.

According to Omondi, the recent announcement of cash bonuses and housing for the Stars has already sparked unease because of the lack of order in decision-making.

“What is causing anxiety is lack of clarity, e.g. where is the money coming from and who decides the amount, e.g. Ksh2.5 million, it begins like there is no order,” he noted.

Omondi maintained that Kenyans deserve to know the source of the funds and the decision-making process behind the rewards.

“People should know where the money came from, and how decisions are made,” he added.

He further warned that such opacity risks sidelining other sportsmen and women who equally bring pride to the nation. “Not just football also rugby, athletics and all other sporting activities,” Omondi said, stressing that fairness in rewarding talent must cut across all disciplines.

His remarks come at a time when the debate on rewarding Harambee Stars has divided opinion, with some hailing the government’s generosity while others, like Omondi, caution against what they see as an unsustainable and unclear approach.