KCA stands accused of doing nothing

On October 6, it was announced that the dispute between Kenya's striking players and the board (KCA) had been resolved. The two bones of contention - outstanding salaries and contract renewals - would be resolved and all was well.

At the time we voiced suspicions that the deal might be more of a cease-fire than an armistice, and it is beginning to appear that has turned out to be the case. Critics who accused the KCA of offering little more than words without substance appear to have been proved right.

What is not disputed is that the KCA are strapped for cash, and critics claimed that the settlement brokered by the Kenya National Sports Council was little more than an attempt to pour cold water on what was becoming an increasingly bitter stand-off. Questions were raised as to how the board would pay the cash.

Sources have told us that the players have not been paid the money owed to them in back-pay, nor have bonuses still outstanding from the 2003 World Cup - the major irritant to the players - been handed over. Even the monies owed from September's Champions Trophy - for which the KCA received a one-off payment of $165,000 from the ICC - are still owing. It is also rumoured that the current coaching staff have not been paid their September salaries.

The biggest sign that the KCA did not intend honouring the truce came when the selectors left all the striking players out of the squad for the Intercontinental Cup finals in Sharjah. Had they said that they wanted to stick with the same players who had seen off Namibia, and in doing so got them through, then that would have been understandable. Instead, it was claimed that the players had not re-applied to be selected. That excuse was unbelievable and wholly transparent.

Last Wednesday, the players concerned publicly accused the KCA of reneging on its agreement and referred their grievances to Ochillo Ayacko, the minister for sport. Ayacko's frustration with events had led to the KNSC's intervention in the first place.

Until recently, the KCA had been using money received from the ICC earmarked for development to pay salaries. But the ICC stepped in and put a stop to that, prompting the current cash-crisis.