Kenya Simbas go down in Uganda, unpaid technical staff raise concerns

The defeat felt eerily familiar, repeating the heartbreak of last year when Algeria edged the Simbas 20-12 in the semi-finals.

Algeria took early control of the game, catching Kenya off guard with a swift opening try. The Simbas responded in the 9th minute through a powerful rolling maul, which saw Teddy Akala cross the line.

However, Brian Wahinya’s conversion attempt went wide, leaving Kenya trailing. Despite entering the match with one of the tournament's best scrum records and having conceded few penalties, the Simbas struggled with execution. Brian Tanga’s erratic distribution often disrupted attacking plays, especially those aimed at Derick Ashihundu on the wings.

In the 20th minute, Algeria capitalized on Kenya's defensive misalignment to score a converted try, extending their lead to 12-5 at halftime. Kenya dominated possession in the second half but was repeatedly frustrated by Algeria’s impulsive defensive bursts that broke the Simbas' attacking rhythm.

Head coach Jerome Paarwater responded by making eight substitutions, introducing fresh legs in the form of Eugene Sifuna, Ephraim Bwire, Wilhite Muhutsi, Andycolle Omollo, Thomas Okeyo, Samuel Asati, Barry Young, and Walter Okoth. While the changes injected energy, Algeria held firm. Two missed penalties by Algeria in the 60th and 77th minutes offered the Simbas a lifeline, but Kenya’s own ball-handling errors and offside infringements proved costly.

Algeria sealed the victory with a well-taken drop goal following a maul from a lineout, putting the final score at 15-5. Kenya’s persistent mistakes in the red zone continued to undermine their tournament campaign, which also saw them lose 29-23 to Zimbabwe in the semi-finals, ending their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, the Kenya Simbas technical bench faces a different battle—one involving months of unpaid allowances. According to reliable sources who sought anonymity, the coaches, who are not salaried but rely on allowances, have not been paid since November 2023. The arrears now run into millions of shillings, but the staff has remained professional throughout the tournament.

Head coach Paarwater, who returned in 2023 for a second stint, assisted by Carlos Katywa, has continued to lead the team despite the financial strain. The issue of unpaid dues is not new, raising fresh concerns about the Kenya Rugby Union’s (KRU) financial management. Stakeholders are questioning where the funds from sponsors, World Rugby, and other revenue streams are being directed.

Despite growing pressure, the KRU has not released any reports addressing the matter, insisting that “everything is okay”, a position that has only heightened calls for transparency and accountability within Kenyan rugby governance.