FKF moves to pay referees after mounting pressure
By Cy Muganda, May 14, 2025The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has begun settling payments owed to referees across its competitions, following mounting pressure over delays that have dogged the officiating fraternity for months.
In a statement released on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, FKF confirmed that payments are currently being processed for match officials in the FKF Premier League, National Super League (NSL), Women’s Premier League (WPL), Women’s National Super League (WNSL), and the Mozzart Bet Cup.
According to the Federation, referees in the FKF Premier League have been paid for Rounds 12 to 18, while NSL officials have received dues for Rounds 13 to 22.
WPL referees have been settled for Rounds 11 to 14 and 16 to 20, while payments for Rounds 12 to 14 in the WNSL have also been completed.
“As of today, the following rounds have been fully settled,” the statement detailed.
The Federation also confirmed that all officiating fees for the Mozzart Bet Cup have been paid in full, with pending payments continuing to be processed pending verification of claims and supporting documentation.
“Payments continue to be processed based on verified documentation for remaining rounds and pending claims,” the statement added.
Safeguarding integrity
The delayed payments have been a source of frustration for referees, especially those officiating in the top-tier FKF Premier League and second-tier NSL.
Reacting to the announcement, FKF President Hussein Mohammed reaffirmed that ensuring timely referee payments remains a key priority for his administration.
“We shall endeavour to always pay referees on time, for their dignity and the integrity of the game. Step by step, we are getting there,” Hussein posted on X on May 14, 2025.
FKF General Secretary Harold Ndege echoed Hussein’s remarks, stating that the Federation is focused on restoring professionalism in officiating.
“Referees are the backbone of fair play, and their welfare is a top priority for my administration,” Ndege said.
“We are committed to restoring dignity, professionalism, and accountability in officiating at every level of Kenyan football,” he added.
Previous commitments and reforms
The latest move follows FKF’s February 11, 2025, consultative meeting with the National Referees Committee, during which the Federation pledged to audit outstanding payments inherited from previous administrations.
“An audit of outstanding dues from previous administrations will be conducted, and all verified amounts, including those from past administrations, will be settled, with priority given to obligations incurred under the new administration,” the federation said at the time.
As part of broader reforms, FKF also committed to implementing a structured vetting and data collection system for referees in all its leagues.
The federation also announced plans to roll out a Service Level Agreement (SLA) framework to guarantee timely payment upon match report submission.
To enhance transparency, FKF announced the introduction of a digital referee appointment system and a performance-based promotion structure aimed at replacing arbitrary selections with merit-driven assessments.
“A digital referee appointment system will be introduced to enhance efficiency and fairness,” the statement added.