Bandari ordered to pay former employees Ksh1.9 million over breach of contract

Bandari players warming up for a past match © Bandari FC

Bandari ordered to pay former employees Ksh1.9 million over breach of contract

Festus Chuma 11:24 - 24.08.2024

Bandari FC have been fined Ksh1.9 million by FKF for failing to pay four former employees, violating contract and licensing regulations.

FKF Premier League side Bandari FC have been fined for failing to meet its financial obligations to former employees amounting to a whopping Ksh1.9 million.

The Football Kenya Federation’s First Instance Body (FIB) delivered this verdict following a detailed review of the club's financial dealings and past employee claims.

The issue came to light after four former Bandari employees, Wilson Oduor Obungu, Daniel Mnyaro Mshamba, Kenneth Onyach Othieno, and David Kingatua Njuguini, lodged complaints regarding unpaid salaries.

Initially, Bandari FC had declared that there were 'no overdue payables', a statement later found to be incorrect.

"Upon reviewing the submitted documents and the court judgment related to these former employees, the FIB granted Bandari FC their license for the 2024/25 season, albeit with sanctions for non-compliance with Article 61 of the FKF Men’s Club Licensing Regulations," said the FIB in a statement.

Bandari have now tasked with settling a sanction imposed by the FIB within a strict three-month window.

The Dockers may negotiate a payment plan which requires the approval of both the club and the affected parties to systematically clear these debts.

This is not the first financial controversy for the coastal club.

Just two months prior, the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) ruled against Bandari in a separate case involving unfair termination of six players.

The tribunal, led by senior lawyer John Ohaga, ordered the club to pay a total of Sh8 million to Douglas Mokaya, Faraj Ominde, Zakayo Keegan, Felix Oluoch, Johana Mwita, and Christopher Ochieng’.

Ohaga critiqued the club's decision-making process in the termination of these players, highlighting the lack of evidence to support the club's claim of poor performance.