Success has many fathers: Politicians now jostling to be named club patrons after contributing nothing towards their success

Shabana, Homeboyz and Murang’a Seal are among those that have new patrons but where were they when the teams were struggling?

Former US President John F Kennedy once said, "Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan."

This phrase best describes what is currently being witnessed in Kenyan football circles where a number of teams are suddenly acquiring new patrons, all of them politicians.

In just two weeks, Shabana FC, Kakamega Homeboyz, and Murang’a Seal have had new patrons installed as the politicians position themselves to feed off the new-found fame from the teams.

It is not just these emerging or reemerging teams but even established ones are having behind the scenes horse trading to have the patron’s mantle switch hands.

Murang’a Seal

The latest to join the bandwagon is Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who was on Tuesday installed as the new Murang’a Seal patron after he hosted the newly-promoted team for lunch and gifted them a Ksh1 million reward.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it's with much honour and privilege that we introduce to you our new club Patron, Hon Ndindi Nyoro. Mhesh is SEALED,” the club said via a Facebook post.

One wonders who was the previous patron, and if he was there, what will his role be now.

“The team is the pride of Kenya and especially Mt Kenya being the only in the Premier League from the region. Led by the Chairman Mr Robert Macharia, we agreed to marshal resources to make the team even greater,” Nyoro said.

While his gesture is laudable, fans would be asking where Nyoro has been as the team struggled through the lower divisions before making it to the top flight as there is no evidence of his involvement before Tuesday’s meeting.

Kakamega Homeboyz

Nyoro’s meeting with Murang’a Seal came just two days after Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa hosted Kakamega Homeboyz after they had won the FKF Cup and like the rest, installed the club patron.

Homeboyz exceeded expectations in the just-concluded season, beatings Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and Tusker on their way to winning their first ever trophy which has earned them a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup.

However, Abana Abeingo have been largely bankrolled by their chairman Cleophas Shimanyula before Mozzart Bet chipped in with a sponsorship package a couple of years ago.

While Barasa’s predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya offered to offset some of their financial burden, the current occupant of the office has not been as supportive but he is now hogging the limelight.

Shabana FC

Shabana’s return to the Premier League after 17 years in the cold perhaps exemplifies JFK’s phrase. When they were struggling, few politicians from Kisii region came to their aid but now, they are fighting amongst each other over the team.

Already, former FKF boss Sam Nyamweya has been ‘dislodged’ as patron with Kisii Governor Simba Arati installed and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro had to be escorted from the stadium just last week after a section of fans were not happy with his presence.

This came less than two weeks after Osoro had hosted the players for lunch alongside other UDA-allied MPs where cash donations were doled out and promises made to support Tore Bobe.

The following day, it was the turn of Arati to host the team and besides cash donations, he unveiled a new sponsor after which he was officially declared the club’s new patron.

Shabana players would perhaps have appreciated if the support had come much earlier given they have struggled to honour matches or get paid as the club was literally running on empty, relying on gate collections and well-wishers to sustain them.

Images of a waterlogged Gusii Stadium which made the pitch unplayable and forced Shabana’s match against MCF to be called off will also suggest that Arati has been sleeping on the job somewhat.

Gor Mahia

At Gor Mahia, there has been a behind the scenes push to have former Prime Minister Raila Odinga pushed out as patron and ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo installed.

A keen observer would have noticed that Owalo has been very prominent in Gor Mahia’s matches and events since his appointment to the cabinet and was even at Kasarani Stadium when K’Ogalo won a record-extending 20th league title on the final day of the season.

While Raila gave K’Ogalo Ksh1.5 million for winning the league, Owalo doubled the amount when he hosted the team the following day and even promised to buy them a new bus.

This is besides a number of meetings the CS has hosted with the team and even funded Gor legends’ trip to Nairobi to watch the Mashemeji derby at Nyayo Stadium in May.

At the centre of it all is the Luo politics supremacy battle as Owalo positions himself to be among those to take over if or when the Azimio La Umoja leader will exit the stage.

Migori Youth

While Uriri MP Mark Nyamita is still the patron, Migori Youth last week met CS Owalo and Interior Principal Secretary Raymod Omollo with promises to support them in their remaining games as they vie for promotion to the Premier League.

Migori are currently locked in a tight battle with Mara Sugar in the quest to finish third with whichever team that will clinch the position set to face Waizto FC in the promotion playoff.

With Premier League within reach, the team is now seeing an influx of politicians who have been inexistent during their tough National Super League campaign.

However, the timing of these politicians make their intentions suspect and fans, already familiar with their games, can read between the lines.

Given the jostling is coming when the said teams have achieved success, it is all too obvious that the leaders do not have the clubs’ interest at heart since they are, or have been, in positions of influence but have not come up with any structures that would benefit Kenyan football for the long-haul.