In March 2025, the football world turned its attention to Kenya as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) unveiled Benni McCarthy as the new head coach of the Harambee Stars, the country’s national football team.
McCarthy, a South African football legend with an illustrious playing and coaching career, stepped into the role with high expectations, tasked with reviving Kenya’s fortunes in international football.
However, amid the excitement of his appointment, intense speculation about his remuneration quickly surfaced.
Reports of an eye-watering salary quickly surfaced, positioning McCarthy as one of the highest-paid individuals in Kenyan sports history.
Benni McCarthy’s contract
The announcement of McCarthy’s appointment on March 3, 2025, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) was a statement of intent from the FKF.
He signed a two-year contract that extends through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host the competition.
Benni McCarthy’s salary as Harambee Stars coach
Initial reports suggested that Benni McCarthy would be earning KES 8 million per month. However, the FKF head of communications, Jeff Kinyanjui, refuted these claims as inaccurate.
Kinyanjui clarified that the government pays McCarthy’s salary, which falls under the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines.
FKF boss Hussein Mohammed also addressed the issue, assuring McCarthy and his technical team would be paid while noting that payroll matters are private and cannot be disclosed.
Despite FKF’s statement, the Salary Remuneration Commission (SRC) denied the claim that it was responsible for paying McCarthy’s salary.
According to a source within the SRC, such an arrangement would only exist between the Ministry of Sports and FKF, as the SRC does not process salaries for national team coaches or classify them as civil servants.
Reported salary figures
Because of this lack of official confirmation, some sources have reported specific figures regarding McCarthy’s salary.
One report indicated that McCarthy is set to earn R1.48 million per month, positioning him as one of the highest-earning coaches in Africa.
Another source stated that McCarthy’s monthly salary is around USD 17,000 (KES 2.2 million), excluding bonuses. However, this figure could be higher depending on the specifics of his contract with the FKF.
During his two-year contract, Pulse Sports Uganda reported that McCarthy would take home a monthly salary of up to KES 8 million.
It was also reported that McCarthy would take home more bonuses while in charge of Harambee Stars.
Comparison to previous earnings and other coaches
Before joining Harambee Stars, McCarthy served as a first-team coach at Manchester United, where he was estimated to earn $45,000 monthly.
At Manchester United, McCarthy reportedly earned £40,000 (KES 6.6 million) per week, translating to a monthly salary of £160,000 (KES 26.4 million).
It was also reported that McCarthy’s salary at Harambee Stars is more than that of the President of Kenya, William Ruto. Ruto reportedly earns around $13,750 monthly, making McCarthy’s salary nearly five times higher.
Compared to other coaches in Africa, Vladimir Petkovic, the coach of the Algerian national team, is the highest paid, with a monthly salary of 108 thousand euros.
Hugo Broos, the coach of the South African national team, ranks second with 75 thousand euros per month, equal to the coach of Côte d’Ivoire, Emers Faye.
Contractual terms and bonuses
Hussein Mohammed, the FKF president, mentioned that McCarthy’s contract includes performance-based bonuses if he meets certain objectives.
These bonuses are tied to the team’s performance, including World Cup qualifiers, the African Nations Championships (CHAN), and AFCON 2027, which Kenya will co-host.
For example, McCarthy could earn a bonus if he leads the Stars to a considerably higher FIFA World Ranking.
Similarly, the coach could earn hefty bonuses if he guides the national team to the latter stages of continental competitions, including the upcoming championships in August.
Financial status of FKF
The financial status of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been a topic of concern. A recent audit report revealed that the former FKF regime left behind a debt of over KES 383 million.
Nevertheless, the salary scrutiny and early results (a 3-3 draw with Gambia and a 2-1 loss to Gabon in March 2025) place McCarthy under pressure.
