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HAPPIER TIMES. Cricket Kenya chairman Manoj Patel (centre) with Kenya captain Shem Ngoche (second right),coach David Obuya (right), Nepal captain Lamichehhane Sandeep (second left) and Manoj Prabhhakar (left) with the series trophy on August 24, 2022 at Nairobi Gymkhana.
The election of former player Manoj Patel as the Cricket Kenya (CK) chairman on February 26, 2022 marked a new dawn for the sport, signalling a fresh start following a tumultuous decade plagued by leadership wrangles and court battles.
Manoj, 43, secured a resounding victory with 51 votes, while his competitors, Chidambaran Subramanian and veteran cricketer Tariq Iqbal, received none.
Other officials elected alongside Manoj included Maina Kiruma Kamau (vice chairman), Kalpesh Solanki (treasurer), and former Kenya internationals Pearlyne Omamo and Kennedy Otieno Obuya, who were unopposed in the Director Women’s Cricket and County Associations Representative positions, respectively.
These elections followed a year-long stakeholder engagement facilitated by the CK Normalisation Committee, chaired by retired Justice Joyce Aluoch, which culminated in the adoption of the 2021 CK constitution. The officials were elected for a four-year renewable term.
As Manoj’s administration enters its final year in office, an assessment of its tenure reveals both achievements and shortcomings in revitalising Kenyan cricket. Prior to the elections, Manoj had outlined his vision to secure adequate funding, develop women’s cricket, nurture talent, and provide greater exposure for players.
A businessman by profession, he assured that funding issues would be addressed through his extensive network of sponsors.
“I know some people have been asking what if ICC (International Cricket Council) does not release the funds? I am not relying on them because I have sponsors all over the world, and that is how we have been organizing cricket tournaments across the country,” Manoj stated.
He also promised to establish a national men’s and women’s league while creating age-group teams, starting from Under-12, to ensure a steady talent pipeline for national teams. Additionally, he pledged to organise international exchange programs to enhance players’ exposure.
“We will have a national league, but it will take time. I want to focus more on women’s cricket because their chances of qualifying for the World Cup are high. But everything will be done equally for both teams,” he said.
However, as his tenure nears completion, some of these promises remain unfulfilled. Yesterday, Manoj did not respond to our calls to discuss his administration’s progress, but CK Chief Executive Officer Ronald Bukusi and Development Director Thomas Odoyo highlighted key milestones.
These include introducing the game to 17 counties, strengthening administrative structures, gaining ICC’s confidence, and ensuring national teams participate in local and international competitions.
Other notable efforts include organizing the Nairobi Senior Women’s Cricket League in December last year, hosting a best-of-three tournament and U19 Boys’ and Girls’ cricket leagues in November, and supporting Nakuru County Cricket Association in revamping its senior men’s and women’s leagues.
CK also conducted umpiring and coaching courses, training 20 coaches in Nakuru and holding an ICC-supported Umpires’ Tutors course for 15 officials. Odoyo noted that, subject to funding, CK aims to expand cricket to the remaining 30 counties.
Despite these achievements, CK has struggled to secure significant sponsorship deals and continues to rely on ICC funding to sustain its activities.
The ICC resumed funding Kenya in June 2023 under a controlled funding program, following CK’s appointment of key officials in 2020. Under this arrangement, ICC disburses funds quarterly with strict adherence to an approved budget.
Kenya received Sh57.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, with the controlled funding initially set to last a year. However, Bukusi did not disclose why Kenya remains under this arrangement, only stating that financial procedures had improved and that the restrictions should be lifted by the end of the year.
The lack of adequate funding has directly impacted national team preparations, leading to poor performances in major competitions. In August last year, all-rounder Rakep Patel resigned as Kenya’s men’s cricket team captain, citing frustrations over delays in player contracts and inadequate preparation for tournaments. Kenya has yet to win a major title or qualify for the finals of any global tournament under Manoj’s tenure.
In the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia, Kenya finished fourth with six points, while Namibia and Uganda secured World Cup spots with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
In October, Kenya disappointed home supporters by winning only two of their five matches in the 2024 Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League “A” in Nairobi.
The women’s team has fared worse, with the Under-19 side failing to secure a single win in the Africa Division One qualifiers for the 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the promise of a national league for both men and women remains unfulfilled.
The Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) remains the country’s most active cricket body, with the national women’s team competing against men in NPCA’s Division Two. The development of age-group teams, starting with Under-12, has yet to materialise.
Coaching has also been unstable, with former players Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara serving as interim head coach and assistant coach, respectively, following the dismissal of David Obuya in August 2023.
As the end of Manoj’s term approaches, stakeholders will be keen to see if his administration can fulfill its promises before the next elections.
While progress has been made in grassroots development and competition participation, the lack of sponsorships, inadequate player preparations, and unfulfilled commitments to establishing national leagues highlight significant areas for improvement. senior women’s cricket league in December 2023, holding a best-of-three tournament and U19 Boys’ and Girls’ cricket leagues in November 2023.
Others are supporting Nakuru County Cricket Association in revamping its senior men’s and women’s leagues and conducting umpiring courses, including training 20 coaches in Nakuru and holding an Umpires’ Tutors course for 15 umpires with ICC-Africa’s support.
Odoyo stated that subject to funding, CK aims to introduce the game to the remaining 30 counties.
Despite Manoj’s assurances about securing sponsorships, CK has yet to attract any major corporate partners and remains heavily reliant on ICC funding.
The ICC resumed funding Kenya in June 2023 under a controlled funding program after CK filled key positions in December 2020, including Development Director (Odoyo), CEO (Bukusi), and Chief Finance Officer (Nathan Okaka).
Under controlled funding, ICC disburses money quarterly, with members required to adhere strictly to pre-approved budgets. In 2023, Kenya’s first-quarter funding was Sh57,628,100.
While the controlled funding was initially set to last a year, Bukusi did not clarify why Kenya remains under this arrangement beyond the initial period.
“Processes and procedures have improved, and we expect to be off controlled funding by the end of the year,” he said.
Due to financial constraints, Kenya’s national teams have struggled with inadequate preparations, contributing to disappointing performances in international competitions.
Kenya’s results on the field have been underwhelming during Manoj’s tenure. In August 2023, men’s team captain Rakep Patel resigned, citing frustrations over delayed player contracts and poor preparation for competitions.
Kenya finished fourth with six points in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional Qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia. Namibia and Uganda secured the two available World Cup spots.
In October 2023, Kenya won only two of five matches in the 2024 Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge (CWC) League “A” in Nairobi, disappointing home fans.
The women’s U19 team failed to win a single match in their three Group “A” fixtures in the Africa Division One qualifiers for the 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Despite the administration’s pledge to establish a national league, no such competition exists for either men or women. The Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) remains the most active cricket body in the country.
Currently, the national women’s teams compete against men in NPCA Division Two, and the promised age-group teams, starting with Under-12, are yet to materialize.
Additionally, coaching stability has been an issue. Former players Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara have been serving as interim head coach and assistant coach, respectively, since the sacking of David Obuya in August 2023.
As Manoj Patel’s administration enters its final year, Cricket Kenya faces pressing challenges—securing sustainable funding, improving team performance, fulfilling promises of structured leagues, and regaining full financial independence from ICC.
Whether the CK leadership can turn things around before their term ends remains to be seen.
