Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) President James Situma has decried the use of football by politicians as a tool for short-term popularity, particularly during the festive season, without contributing to the long-term growth of the sport.

Speaking on a local radio station’s breakfast show on Monday, August 4, 2025, Situma, a former Harambee Stars player, spoke out strongly against the trend of December tournaments backed by hefty but unsustainable political donations amid the country co-hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

Political gimmicks

“It’s unfortunate that politicians use football to gain mileage, and this always happens during the December holidays every year,” Situma stated. “You’ll see tournaments in almost every village, with a politician giving out Ksh1 million to the winner, which, sadly, is a one-time event. For the rest of the year, nearly 10 or 11 months, nothing happens.”

His comments come amid growing concerns from stakeholders in the grassroots and national football scenes, where players and clubs continue to grapple with poor infrastructure, lack of structured development programs, and financial instability.

The former AFC Leopards and Tusker FC defender now wants lawmakers to engage in policy conversations that move beyond festive tokenism. “This needs to be a conversation in Parliament: How can we grow our sports industry across all disciplines with sustainable strategies?” he posed.

The KEFWA boss further addressed the systemic issues plaguing local footballers, especially those in lower-tier leagues and women’s football. “The main issues we often see between players and clubs are late salary payments, contract terminations without proper procedures, and inadequate medical support,” he added.

His remarks come as several clubs, including top-tier sides, face accusations of breaching player contracts, delaying payments for months, and neglecting player welfare. Despite a constitutional guarantee of labour rights, Situma noted that most footballers in Kenya are left vulnerable due to weak enforcement mechanisms and lack of union representation at negotiation tables.

In recent months, KEFWA has stepped up efforts to sensitise players about their rights while also pushing for comprehensive sports policy reforms. Situma believes that with the right political will and legislative action, Kenya can move from event-based football gimmicks to a well-structured industry that provides livelihoods and nurtures talent throughout the year.

He urged Parliament, the Ministry of Sports, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and corporate sponsors to collaborate in developing long-term grassroots programs, enforceable player contracts, and a medical and pension plan for active and retired players.