Govt struggling to hold onto Harambee Stars coach

The Kenyan government is struggling to hold onto Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne who has issued a three-month quit notice if his three-month salary is not cleared.

The 46-year-old Frenchman served the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) with a “pay up or I quit” notice that was set to expire on Tuesday but the ministry has worked round the clock to at least clear his September and October salaries.

Nation Sport exclusively broke the story about Migne’s delayed salaries and his quit notice on December 8.

The government, through the Ministry of Sports, will have to scrounge around their coffers to raise Sh3 million for the remaining month and December. Migne is reportedly on a Sh1.5 million monthly salary plus other allowances and benefits.

Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia has moved to assure fans that there’s no cause for alarm and the coach will not be leaving any time soon, at least for now. “We are very happy with how the coach is doing his work. This month’s salary and last month’s arrears will be processed soon,” he said on Tuesday.

FKF Media officer Barry Otieno echoed the PS’s sentiments adding that the coach has expressed his disappointment at how the ministry has delayed his salary from time to time.

Migne, who replaced Belgian Paul Put in May, saved Stars’ sinking ship by guiding them two wins and a draw in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations - which ended the country’s 15-year wait to feature at the competition. Next year’s Afcon will be held at a venue yet to be decided by Caf who have received bids from Egypt and South Africa.

At the same time, Migne has called on the government to motivate the team more if they want to become a continental football powerhouse. “It will be good for the country to make some effort to motivate the staff and the players to be in good condition,” said the Frenchman.

Migne has guided Stars to six wins, three defeats and a draw in 10 games since taking over in May.