Kenya basketball referees down tools over unpaid dues

In a bid to compel Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) to settle their dues for the month of January, a majority of basketball referees on Saturday 4 February were a no-show on various venues. 

The Kenya Basketball Referees Association (KBRA) members are said have taken up other refereeing duties away from the league action or just opted to stay away. 

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, FIBA referee and KBRA second vice chairperson who is also in charge of development within the association Eric Omondi confirmed that the members are demanding for their dues. 

"After the association's elections in January, the members were paid all their accrued debts that ran to over Ksh 200,000 and we begun the year on a clean slate. 

It was agreed that all the payments would be done promptly for services rendered but from what I gather, the last two weekends the officials have not received their pay and this would have been the third weekend," explained Omondi. 

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The situation said to have witnessed across the country forced the federation to use some of the retired officials just so the league does not stall. 

At the Ulinzi Complex, Joseph Amoko, the federation's Fixtures Secretary and a retired FIBA referee was forced to call some of the early morning matches alongside Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) team manager Chris Ogutu. 

Calls were made and a few of the active officials, including Omondi availed themselves at Ulinzi Complex. Delays in matches were, however, inevitable. 

"We will have a meeting as KBRA on Saturday evening and engage the members as well as the federation and chart a way forward where every party will be catered for and the game will not suffer," Omondi further said.