Engin Firat: Why Kenya is Not Off the Hook in Ksh75 Million Pay Dispute Despite Death of Ex-Harambee Stars Coach

Former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat was laid to rest in Antalya, Turkey on Tuesday following his sudden death on Monday but he had a case against Kenya which will not go away.

Firat died following a heart attack at an airport in Istanbul when he was on his way home, having left Lebanon, where he coached Nejmeh SC, home to Kenyan players Masud Juma, Anthony Akumu and Austin Odhiambo, following the escalating security situation in the country.

However, by the time of his death, the 55-year-old, who coached Harambee Stars between 2021 and 2024, had a pending case against Football Kenya Federation (FKF) at FIFA over unpaid salaries and breach of contract.

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Firat, through his representatives, lodged a complaint at the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber in 2025 seeking compensation of up to Ksh75 million in unpaid salaries and breach of contract claims.

The Turkish coach had complained a number of times during his stint in Kenya that his salary, reported to be Ksh1.5 million per month at the time, had not been paid for months, leaving him in a spot of bother and when he resigned in December 2024, he sought legal redress at FIFA.

His death therefore came before the matter had been concluded but according to legal experts, it does not mean that Kenya is now off the hook.

“A case does not automatically lapse upon the death of a claimant,” Kenyan sports lawyer Sarah Ochwada told Pulse Sports.

“Although FIFA does not have provisions which explicitly deal with “death of a claimant”, it does have procedural rules which can allow for an authorised representative to substitute the claimant,” she further stated.

According to Ochwada, proceedings before the FIFA Football Tribunal are governed by Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal with relevant provisions under Articles 18 (Claims) and 19 (Preliminary procedural matters).

Under Article 18, claims may be filed by parties or their authorised representatives and sets out the procedural standing of parties in proceedings while Article 19 allows the FIFA Secretariat or the Chamber chairperson to address procedural issues before the merits and determine how proceedings should continue when circumstances affecting the case arise, like Firat’s death.

This means since the claimant, in this case Firat, has died, other parties like his legal representatives can step in on behalf of his heirs and drive the matter to conclusion.

“Since employment-related claims such as unpaid salaries are patrimonial rights and form part of the deceased's estate, the legal heirs/successors/representatives of the deceased may step into the proceedings and pursue the claim of outstanding amounts on behalf of the estate,” Ochwada said.

“The FIFA Tribunal may suspend or stay the proceedings temporarily to allow the claimant’s representatives to formally notify the tribunal of the death and demonstrate their legal standing to continue the claim on behalf of the deceased.

“Once that procedural step is completed, the case can proceed to be heard on its merits. However, if the case was at an advanced stage, a decision can still be issued and compensation awarded to the estate,” the lawyer added.