Kenyan cricket legends during the launch of the T20 League/CHARLENE MALWA The sports governing body, Cricket Kenya, has distanced itself from the tournament, terming it “non-existent” and warning the public against engaging with its promoters, AOS Sports and their local contact, Kennedy Obuya.
CK chief executive Ronald Bukusi said the federation has not sanctioned the event, insisting it remains outside International Cricket Council-approved agreements.
“Cricket Kenya wishes to categorically clarify that it has neither sanctioned nor approved this alleged tournament,” Bukusi said. “The public is expressly cautioned against associating or engaging in any way with individuals or entities promoting this non-existent tournament.”
The tournament is backed by Dubai and India-based Arena of Sports (AOS) and has Obuya as their Kenyan contact.
At the heart of the dispute is a pending contract between Cricket Kenya and AOS Sports, which Bukusi insists is still awaiting approval from the ICC.
“The agreement with AOS remains subject to ICC clearance. Until then, no event can be marketed as officially sanctioned by Cricket Kenya,” he said.
The CKT20 saga has deepened rifts within CK, with over 80 per cent of the board members insisting on holding on until the ICC approval.
However, chairman Manoj Patel and Obuya believe the tournament should go ahead.
This division reflects wider governance issues within the federation. Earlier this year, a majority of board members passed a vote of no confidence in Patel.
“For proper housekeeping, please note that a vote of no confidence has been passed against our current chair,” Pearlyne Omamo, Director of Women’s Cricket, wrote in an email to AOS. “While you have included him in this correspondence, he is not in a position to make any representation binding on Cricket Kenya or the Board at this time.”
Despite CK's objections, AOS has marketed the CKT20 League as a financial lifeline for the struggling sport.
AOS chairman Chandra Panwar pledged to inject USD 300,000 (about Sh 38m) into Kenyan cricket for the inaugural season, with an annual increase of USD 50,000 over five years — totalling nearly Sh255 million.
Supporters of the deal argue that such investment could revive Kenyan cricket, once a powerhouse in African sport but currently plagued by financial struggles and mismanagement.
Critics, however, warn that pursuing the league without due process could further tarnish the game’s reputation.
“As you may be aware, the irregular manner in which previous tournaments were handled by the current chair played a key role in the vote of no confidence,” Omamo wrote. “The board is therefore keen to do better and salvage its reputation.”
Sources also claim that some Ministry of Sports officials have pressured Cricket Kenya to endorse the league, a move that board members fear could trigger ICC sanctions due to government interference.
The CKT20 saga has amplified existing tensions within Cricket Kenya’s board. The leadership impasse, unresolved for months, has crippled decision-making and left the federation vulnerable to external manipulation.
Friday’s board meeting at Talanta Plaza collapsed in disarray after a majority of members refused to back the CKT20 proposal, citing governance flaws and the risk of further ICC scrutiny.
“The issue goes beyond money. It’s about governance, integrity, and the future of Kenyan cricket,” one official told reporters.
Kenya’s cricketing reputation has already suffered in recent years due to mismanagement and poor displays on the field.
Once a darling of the 2003 ICC World Cup, the national team now struggles in lower divisions.
Analysts warn that another governance scandal could alienate sponsors, deter investors, and isolate the country further from the global cricket community.
Bukusi’s tough stance reflects CK's attempt to re-establish credibility amid turbulence.
