SDT orders Mbuzi Cup organisers to award winners 40 goats or pay cash equivalent

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has ordered the organizers of the Mbuzi Cup to award Mchanga Football Club 40 goats or pay the club their equivalent value at the prevailing market rate after finding that the tournament winners were unlawfully denied their advertised prize.

In a judgment delivered on July 16, 2026, in SDTSC/E017/2026, the Tribunal, chaired by Hon. Eddie Omondi alongside Hon. Allan Mola and Hon. Alela Mukoko, ruled that the second and third respondents, Yusuf Sakali and Williams Ariko, were legally bound by the prize commitments they publicly made before the tournament.

The Mbuzi Cup, organized in late 2025 under the Sakali Family Foundation with the approval of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Kakamega County Chairman, advertised 40 goats for the champions, 30 for the runners-up, 20 for the third-placed team, and 10 for the fourth-placed side.

Mchanga FC entered the competition on the strength of those terms, advanced through the ward-level qualifiers, and emerged champions after winning the final at Amalemba Grounds.

Despite repeated assurances that the prizes would be delivered in December 2025 and later in January 2026, the club never received the promised reward, prompting it to file a claim before the tribunal.

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The tribunal found that the organizers had made an unequivocal representation that induced Mchanga FC to participate in the competition.

Applying the doctrine of promissory estoppel under Section 120 of the Evidence Act, the panel held that it would be unconscionable to allow the organizers to renege on their promise after the club had relied on it to its detriment.

The Tribunal also upheld the club's claim of legitimate expectation, citing the Supreme Court decision in Communications Commission of Kenya & 5 Others v Royal Media Services Limited & 5 Others [2014] KESC 53 (KLR).

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Accordingly, judgment was entered against the second and third respondents, directing them to deliver the 40 goats or pay their equivalent value at the prevailing market rate.

However, the Tribunal declined to quantify the monetary value because no evidence of prevailing goat prices had been presented during the proceedings.

Mchanga FC's claim for KSh 45,000 in special damages was dismissed after the Tribunal found that the amount had not been specifically proved.

However, costs of the suit were awarded to the club and are to be borne jointly by all three respondents.

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In his replying affidavit, the third respondent acknowledged the outstanding prize obligation and admitted that the settlement dates had been postponed but did not dispute the substance of the claim.

The first and second respondents neither entered an appearance nor filed a defense.

The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for grassroots football in Kenya, where tournament organizers have often failed to honor advertised prizes after competitions conclude.

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