FKF vice president and retired footballer McDonald Mariga has broken his silence following claims by musician Bahati, who recently leaked their private chats over an unfulfilled KSh 1 million pledge to Harambee Stars.
Bahati had promised to reward the national team if they defeated Morocco in the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Stars went on to secure a historic victory, but the pledged cash is yet to be delivered. Instead, Bahati shifted blame to Mariga, accusing him of stalling the handover.
The Unfulfilled KSh 1 Million Pledge
Speaking to SPM Sports, Mariga dismissed the allegations, accusing the singer of using the Harambee Stars’ name for clout. “He’s clout-chasing with me.
The first time he called, he said he would give KSh 1 million. Since then, he’s been taking me in circles. When I call, he doesn’t pick up. Other times, he says he’s in Naivasha. Honestly, nothing he says is clear. I don’t have time for liars,” Mariga said.
The FKF vice president insisted he was not interested in “sideshows,” claiming he stopped answering Bahati’s calls after weeks of unfulfilled promises.
“I don’t do online show-off things. I told him clearly: if he really wants to give the money, let him come and deliver it to the team. All these things he’s saying are nonsense and lies. He should stop riding on people’s names as he always does,” Mariga added.
The Leaked Chats
In his defence, Bahati shared screenshots of WhatsApp messages, claiming he had made several attempts to coordinate the handover.
The texts, allegedly sent between August 18 and 24, show Bahati apologising for delays, citing a film shoot and family vacation.
“Good morning senior, pole I missed your call. I was on set and also on a family vacation… If I delay, allow me to do it next week. Hii yangu ningetumana ni vile Wakenya wanataka proof nikipeana so naomba nijiletee aki,” one of the messages read.
Bahati further argued that CAF regulations prevented him from accessing the players directly after the Morocco match.
He said Mariga had suggested arranging the handover during training sessions. The singer, dressed in a Harambee Stars jersey, even posted a video holding bundles of cash, promising he would still honour the pledge.
At one point, he joked about tripling the amount: “Naweza kasirika nilete ikiwa KSh 3 million.”
The Bigger Picture: Intent vs. Action
Mariga, however, maintained that he would not allow the controversy to tarnish his reputation. “The first day he called, he said he was bringing money to Harambee Stars, and I even gave him the programme. He never showed up. I called him again, and he didn’t pick up. Later, he told me he didn’t even know where he was. I had to send him a message saying I’d release a statement because Kenyans will think I’m the one eating players’ money,” he explained.
The FKF official reiterated that he is still waiting for Bahati to deliver the money directly to the team, without excuses.
The saga has since divided opinion online, with fans questioning Bahati’s intentions and others accusing Mariga of mishandling the situation.
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