Ministry of Sports responds to claims of mistreatment of Kenya Women’s Amputee football team

The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports has responded to recent claims regarding the mistreatment of the Kenya Women’s National Amputee Football Team after their participation in the inaugural WAFF Amputee Football Women’s World Cup in Barranquilla, Colombia.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, 12th November, the Ministry clarified that the team, consisting of 12 players and their coach, had been well-informed about their travel itinerary prior to departure. It further emphasized that the team did not raise any complaints or requests for additional support during their journey. The Ministry also highlighted the assistance provided by Lufthansa Airlines, who arranged a special lounge with beds to ensure the team could rest during their 13-hour layover in Frankfurt, Germany.

While the Ministry acknowledged the lengthy layover, they explained that the team was unable to leave Frankfurt Airport due to visa restrictions and were required to stay within the airport during the wait. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the welfare of all Kenyan national teams and expressed appreciation for Lufthansa’s support.

Despite the Ministry’s statement, the team’s return journey raised concerns when they were left stranded in Frankfurt on 12th November. After competing in the World Cup, the team had a long stopover in Frankfurt before their flight to Nairobi, scheduled for 13th November.

Kenyans living in Germany stepped up to support the Kenyan Amputee Football Team, providing accommodation and food during their long layover in Berlin.

The national women's team was returning from Colombia, where they had competed in the World Cup and finished in fourth place.… pic.twitter.com/AgIUAm3otO

— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) November 13, 2024

According to Oscar, a Kenyan living in Berlin, the team’s coach reached out for help on Tuesday morning, explaining that the team had no place to stay and no means to secure food during the extended layover. "The coach called me this morning and told me about the layover from 1600 to 1100 hrs. They were asking us to help them find a place where they could spend the night, refresh, and maybe get something to eat while waiting for their flight," Oscar shared.

Oscar, who had previously played with the team’s coach, and his friends quickly mobilized funds, securing accommodation and food for the team. Oscar expressed frustration, saying, "I think both the Government and the Federation have neglected them."

The team had an impressive run in the World Cup, finishing fourth overall. They topped Pool B in the group stages, went on to defeat Ukraine 1-0 in the quarter-finals, but were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Colombia in the semifinals. In the third-place match, they lost 1-0 to Poland.

Before departing for Colombia, the Ministry had ensured that the team’s local training expenses and competition allowances were paid. However, the situation surrounding the team's return travel and the layover in Frankfurt has raised questions about the support provided to Kenyan athletes abroad.

The Ministry has since organized a reception to honor the team’s achievements, reaffirming its commitment to improving the welfare and comfort of Kenyan national teams in future international competitions.