Cricket Kenya Board Members Thomas Odoyo, Pauline Njeru, Secretary/CEO Ronald Bukusi and Tariq Iqbal (member) at Ruaraka Sports Club/ CHARLENE MALWA Cricket Kenya (CK) has terminated its sponsorship agreement with Arena of Sports (AOS).
The deal, signed in April 2025, was intended to facilitate a franchise tournament under CK’s oversight.
However, the federation claimed AOS proceeded to initiate a separate league, prompting CK to officially terminate the agreement on September 10.
“Sanctioning of tournaments must follow due diligence, financial vetting, and ICC approval. This is not about blocking investment; it’s about protecting Kenyan cricket,” said CK CEO Ronald Bukusi.
He stressed that only the Board has the authority to enter into or cancel contracts.
Bukusi also confirmed that the ICC had not approved the proposed tournament and reiterated that participation in unapproved events could lead to sanctions for players, counties, and sponsors.
“The ICC is strongly against unsanctioned events,” he added. “Participation could expose the entire ecosystem to risk.”
CK’s initial statement distancing itself from the CK T20 League was issued on September 1, aligning with the ICC’s position.
The federation said several attempts to bring AOS back into compliance were unsuccessful, and a launch event attended by only one CK Director further misrepresented the federation’s stance.
The statement described the incident as a setback to ongoing discussions with the ICC and emphasised that “only the Cricket Kenya Board has the authority to speak and act on behalf of the organisation.”
CK also dismissed claims of a “Supreme Council” within the federation, affirming that all executive, operational, and financial powers rest solely with the Board, as outlined in Article 8 of its Constitution.
Looking ahead, the federation announced plans to unveil a new sponsorship partner “fully aligned with our governance principles” and called for unity within the cricket community.
“We are committed to transparent governance and rebuilding the credibility of Kenyan cricket,” said Bukusi.
This development comes just a day after Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya urged all sports federations to uphold governance and accountability.
