By Anderson Ojwang
The County Government of Kisumu has withdrawn its support to the Kisumu All-Stars football club. The team currently plays in the second tier of the FKF leagues.
In a memo by Sports, Culture, Gender and Youth Affairs, Chief Officer Francis Asunah dated 26th November 2024 to the chief executive officer (CEO) of Kisumu All Stars Football Club said the county government decision to withdraw its support to the club.
It read in parts “ This is to bring to your attention the county executive committee decision on the non-renewal of the contract of the Kisumu All-stars FC and the subsequent cessation of any other funding from the county government of Kisumu.
You are therefore requested to communicate the same to the players and the technical bench in due time. We really appreciate working with you and the team in its entirety”.
The team was formed in 2018 as a community but the county government decided to support it and it is said it has so far spent over Sh 50M on it.
The county government also provided the stadium and other amenities at the disposal of the club and ensured that all the necessary requests were met in time.
Sources revealed that the fallout occurred when it came to the recent FKF elections of 2024. The electoral board required clubs voting at the general assembly to forward the name of the voting delegate formally through email to the electoral board.
The county government of Kisumu did comply and duly nominated their preferred representative as advised.
However, some aggrieved persons allegedly challenged the board about the ownership and disputed claims that the club belonged to the county government.
The electoral board made a decision to disregard the advice of the county on the ownership of the club and the delegate to participate in the election.
But the CEO Mr. Benjamin Oyugi acknowledged the receipt of the memo and claimed the problem of the team started when a new CEC was appointed to the office.
He denied claims that the fallout came as a result of the disregard of the county government during the recent FKF elections.
“We have had a difficult time with the county government. Accessing money from the county has been difficult and this has undermined our general operation and performance,” he said.
The CEO said the team was faced with imminent death should new financiers fail to come and rescue the club.
