Harambee Stars defender reveals how Gen Z protests cost him Ksh4 million-a-month salary

Harambee Stars and Kenya Police FC title-winning defender Abud Omar has opened up on how the 2024 'Gen Z protests' derailed a lucrative move back to overseas football.

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The fullback noted that the protests cost him a potential Ksh4 million per month deal in the Major League Soccer (MLS).

The nationwide Gen Z-led demonstrations erupted in mid-June 2024, sparked by opposition to the government’s proposed Finance Bill 2024, which sought to introduce new and higher taxes on basic goods and services.

The movement, largely organised online, quickly gathered momentum as young Kenyans mobilised under calls for economic justice, accountability, and good governance.

Protests intensified between 18 and 25 June, with demonstrations spreading across Nairobi and several major towns.

The defining moment came on 25 June, when protesters breached security and entered Parliament, an incident that drew global attention and triggered heightened security measures across the country.

It was at the height of that unrest that Omar, a well-travelled left-back who had previously played in Greece, Bulgaria, Belgium, and Romania, saw his long-awaited move to the United States slipping away.

“I had a deal to go to the MLS. It was worth about Ksh4 million per month, but the move collapsed because of the Gen Z protests,” Omar revealed on the Tiki Taka Show.

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The former Slavia Sofia defender explained that just as the transfer was being finalised, embassy operations in Nairobi were disrupted, effectively stalling his visa process.

“At the time, the American embassy closed and said they were only dealing with special cases when it came to issuing visas; they were prioritising Americans who wanted to travel back home, and that is how the deal collapsed,” Omar offered.

Omar, who began his senior career at Admiral FC, said he initially remained hopeful that calm would return quickly, allowing the process to resume. Instead, the situation worsened with each passing week.

“The protests were happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the situation kept escalating. When they went to Parliament and then said they would go to the State House, the embassy closed completely until further notice,” he recalls.

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By the time tensions began to ease, Omar’s final window of opportunity had already shut. The MLS club moved on and secured an alternative signing, effectively dimming his chance.

“I spoke to the coach, and he told me, ‘I’m sorry, I will have to sign another player, that player came in and scored on his debut, and that was the end of my chance.”

He added that the tactical setup also worked against him, “They were playing a 3-5-2 system where the wing-backs push high. The guy came on in the second half and scored, and that was it.”

While the failed transfer was a bitter blow, it may have turned into a blessing in disguise. The former Tusker full-back stayed in Kenya and went on to achieve a milestone that had eluded him throughout his career, winning the FKF Premier League title with Police.

The league crown added to his list of honours, which includes a Super League Greece 2 title with Ionikos FC in the 2020-2021 season, a triumph that earned the club promotion to the Greek top flight.

He also lifted the Bulgarian Cup with Slavia Sofia during his stint in Eastern Europe.

Despite enjoying success in several countries, Ionikos remains the only other club, apart from Kenya Police, where Omar has won a league championship.