Harambee Stars players have declined to train ahead of Saturday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium, citing unpaid allowances and concerns over their welfare.
The players, who reported to camp on Wednesday, are understood to have reached the decision after holding a meeting among themselves.
They are demanding that several outstanding issues be addressed before they return to training, including the settlement of allowances owed from previous national team assignments.
The players have also requested a meeting with President William Ruto or officials from the Ministry of Sports to discuss what they say are longstanding concerns over accommodation and travel arrangements.
Among the grievances raised is the standard of hotels used by the national team during both home and away assignments.
The players claim they have on several occasions been booked into accommodation they consider below the standard expected for the national team.
They have also questioned flight arrangements for international fixtures, saying cheaper travel options involving lengthy layovers have sometimes been selected despite more convenient alternatives being available.
The squad now wants the welfare concerns addressed alongside the payment of all outstanding allowances before training resumes.
The standoff comes at a critical stage of preparations, with Harambee Stars scheduled to face Eritrea on Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Any prolonged disruption to training could affect the team’s preparations for the fixture, which is only days away.
The players have, however, reported to camp, with their decision focused on withholding training until their concerns are addressed.
Attention will now turn to the Football Kenya Federation and the Ministry of Sports as they seek to resolve the dispute and get the team back on the pitch ahead of the Eritrea encounter.
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