The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has blamed the Sports ministry, under the leadership of Ababu Namwamba for the financial problems facing the national sevens team, Shujaa.
On Sunday, November 27, 2022, Shujaa players were forced to plead for financial aid from Kenyans for their preparation for the upcoming legs of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series to be held in Dubai and Cape Town earlier next month.
According to a press statement signed by the federation's chairman Odour Gangla, they have not received any financial support from the government since April this year.
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"KRU has continuously worked to adjust to the new normal post COVID-19, where the Sports Ministry has been a key partner in the return to Rugby process by gladly bridging KRU resource gaps up to and until April 2022.
"In the months to follow, KRU has, with the help of our valuable partners, continued resourcing the National teams in our bid to keep our programs running and giving our talented young men and women a sporting chance.
"During this period, the KRU has managed to send various national squads to international competitions without the help of the Sports Ministry," part of the statement from KRU read.
The federation further disclosed that the players, both from the men’s and women’s teams have not been paid for period of three months now.
“On the outset, we would like to acknowledge that the KRU owes the Shujaa program players and management 3 months of salaries as at the end of November 2022.
“Additionally, KRU acknowledges that we owe the Lionesses 5 months of their training allowances,” the statement ended.
Shujaa and the Lionesses are not the only national rugby side that has faced financial-related challenges in the past few months.
The men's 15s side, Simbas, also experienced the same obstacles while preparing for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
In both the African qualifiers and the Repechage tournament, Simbas faced financial constraints to an extent that the players threatened to boycott training and some of their matches.
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