Former Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has made a startling revelation about the financial realities of running a top-tier football club in the country, admitting that his own team, Kariobangi Sharks, consumes millions of shillings annually without yielding any returns.
In a candid interview with Mozzart Sport, Mwendwa disclosed that Sharks alone swallows Ksh50 million from his pocket every single year.
The former federation boss did not mince his words when he stated that the club does not bring back any money, painting a grim picture of football management in Kenya.
The 46-year-old businessman, who has been silently funding the club for years, advised potential investors to think twice before jumping into football ownership.
He emphasized that the current structure of the game makes it nearly impossible for clubs to operate as profitable businesses, and anyone getting involved must be prepared to lose money rather than make it.
Mwendwa further broke down the financial strain by explaining that if a club receives Ksh60 million from sponsorships, that amount can only stretch so far.
He questioned where the rest of the money would come from, because as he put it, a business should ideally generate profit, but no club in the Kenyan Premier League is currently capable of doing that.
His remarks have once again highlighted the harsh reality facing local football, where club owners are forced to dig deep into their personal pockets just to keep their teams afloat.
Mwendwa is among a select group of individuals who have taken up the burden of running Premier League sides, alongside Cleophas Shimanyula of Kakamega Homeboyz, Robert Macharia of Murang'a Seal, Elly Kalekwa of Sofapaka, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja who runs Nairobi United.
These owners, despite their different backgrounds and resources, all share one common experience; football in Kenya is an expensive hobby rather than a viable investment.
The situation has sparked debate about the sustainability of the current model and whether the government or corporate Kenya should step in to salvage the beautiful game.
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