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Marriage between Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat is nearing a premature divorce following the election of new soccer administrators.

The government, through the Ministry of Sports, has also stated its intentions to halt its financial obligations to the Turkish football manager, citing Kenya’s failure to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations in Morocco.

In an interview on Monday night, Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hinted at the end of an era for the former Moldova coach in Kenya.

Murkomen, who spoke with vigor and confidence, took a swipe at the immediate former FKF president Nick Mwendwa for hiring Firat, whom he claims had no significant track record in his previous roles before taking on the demanding Harambee Stars coaching position.

“I do not know why the coach (Firat) was hired, because there is no specific track record that you can subscribe to. I told Nick Mwendwa to his face that this coach of yours was beaten 7-0 or something like that when he was with Moldova. I tried to read his history and could not find any success.

“Nevertheless, when we came into office, we decided we would support him fully. He (Firat) kept saying he wanted a chartered plane to go to Cameroon, and we provided it. They wanted to play in South Africa, and we paid. At some point, he was blaming us for a lack of facilities in Kenya, claiming that’s why they failed. I said, ‘Why are people winning away matches if that is the issue?’ Murkomen noted.

Axing Firat

The seemingly rattled Sports CS added that the government would pay dues owed to Firat until June this year and would seek an amicable solution regarding any additional payments mandated by the contract.

However, the Ministry will remain firm on discontinuing his services and is confident that the newly appointed FKF leadership, led by president Hussein Mohammed and his deputy McDonald Mariga, will seek a new coach for the Harambee Stars.

“I have read the contract, and it says that if we don’t qualify for the African Cup of Nations, the coach exits. Now that he did not meet the conditions of the contract, if FKF wants to keep him, they should do so using their own resources.

We will see how we can pay his arrears. I’ve given directions to pay him his dues until June this year, and the rest of the balance can be discussed. Now that there is a new team, I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to have another coach.”

Last month, after Kenya’s last qualifying match for Afcon 2025, Firat expressed his willingness to continue in his role, but that was contingent on the outcome of the FKF elections.

Sources close to the coach say that if the government and FKF agree to terminate the current contract, it could cost the taxpayer Sh61.5 million.

While the exact salary Firat and his Turkish coaching staff earn is not publicly known, it is believed to be between Sh1.5 million and Sh2 million per month. Another source indicated that Firat has not been paid for about a year, which could prove costly if his services are terminated.

Costly performance

Firat took over the reins of Harambee Stars in October 2020, with his first assignment being a 2022 Fifa World Cup Qualifier game against Mali away from home. Kenya suffered a 5-0 humiliation in that match.

Kenya’s poor performance in the first four matches of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and the failure to qualify for Morocco next year has put Firat under scrutiny, with a significant number of football stakeholders in the country calling for his dismissal.

All eyes are now on Hussein and Mariga to act on the future of the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager, with the national football team set to return to action in February for Chan 2024 (if Kenya hosts) and World Cup Qualifiers in March against Gambia and Gabon, respectively.