Kenyan cricket continues to be undermined by internal squabbles

Three months ago the future of cricket in Kenya looked to be bright. The national side reached the World Cup semi-finals, and the resulting publicity appeared to be just what was needed to kick-start a sport stifled by political bickering and poor administration.

But the politics which undermined attempts to promote the game in Kenya for a number of years are threatening to crush the progress which many hoped would result from the World Cup.

At the heart of the problem is the Kenya Cricket Association, the very body which should be at the forefront of fostering the game. It seems to harbour a number of individuals who are more interested in self-promotion, and the decision by the International Cricket Council to award Kenya £300,000 has resulted in a scramble for places at the trough.

The KCA is battling with the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) for control of Kenyan cricket. The latest clash has resulted in the establishment of provincial and national leagues (a key point in the ICC's plans to elevate Kenya to full Test status) stalling as the two argue.

The NPCA is no longer affiliated from the KCA, and is trying to establish a breakaway league. It claims it has enough support to launch in early July. In recent seasons there have been two separate leagues, leading to confusion and further acrimony.

As the two associations squabble, the momentum resulting from the World Cup diminishes and cricket is slowly returning to its status as a second-division sport in Kenya. At the moment it looks as if any progress will be in spite of the two bodies rather than because of them.

The KCA has been accused of misappropriating funds, and despite repeated denials its image is so tarnished that potential sponsors are reluctant to be associated with it. In May 2002 the Kenyan government temporarily dissolved the KCA in reaction to continued allegations of mismanagement, although this development was subsequently ruled illegal by Kenyan courts. Opponents have repeatedly called for greater transparency, but their requests have not been met to their satisfaction.

The situation is further complicated by the Kenyan team itself, many of whom are at loggerheads with the KCA. In 2001 a planned series against Sri Lanka A was cancelled when the players refused to take part, in a long-running dispute over money. Kenya's participation in the World Cup was even in doubt when the players threatened a last-minute strike over pay.

Last month the KCA opened its new academy. What should have been a well-publicised boost for the game was overshadowed by the absence of almost all the World Cup squad, who stayed away as part of their ongoing feud with the KCA.

For the sake of Kenyan cricket heads need to banged together and action taken so that time and effort is spent promoting the game as a whole. Sadly, history suggests that self-interest will continue to win out.