Kenyans call for stern measures as Matasi banned over match-fixing allegations

Former Kenya internationals have led the chorus by calling on Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to do whatever they can and stop match-fixing, just a day after Kenya national team Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi was suspended for 90 days over the same allegations.
The federation took the decision to suspend the 37-year-old, after he was dragged into serious allegations of match-fixing following a secretly recorded video that leaked allegedly showing him negotiating a deal to manipulate the outcome of a match.
The footage, which was secretly recorded from the left back of a seat by another person, though the exact date it was taken still remains unclear, captured Matasi, actively engaged in a conversation on how to manipulate the match in question.
“I repeat again before the boss,” said the person, who is engaging Matasi, with the keeper nodding his head back in return in acceptance. “This is the deal, and you know, me, I have never let you know down,” the unseen person continues with the conversation while Matasi is keenly listening and nodding his head.
“Whatever that will be given to me, I will forward it to you,” added the unseen person with Matasi responding… ‘Okay’. “Immediately I forward it to you, I will give you a phone call and the boss will confirm that you have received the message, then this is what we want, that first half to end in draw, hope that is a deal… and then the video ends.
The video which has since gone viral has put Matasi’s career on the edge with FKF confirming they have launched an investigation in conjunction with world governing body FIFA, and the Confederation African Football (CAF) to unravel the truth.
Further, FKF released a statement confirming that Matasi will remain suspended from any football activities for a period of 90 minutes in accordance with Section VII (2) of the FKF Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations (2016), and that his current club Kakamega Homeboyz, had already been notified of the same.
“The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has provisionally suspended goalkeeper Patrick Matasi from all FKF-sanctioned events and competitions for 90 days, following concerns raised by circulating videos suggesting possible match manipulation,” read part of the statement from FKF.
“The decision, made in accordance with Section VII (2) of the FKF Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations (2016), has been formally communicated to Kakamega Homeboyz FC and the player.”
The statement continued: “FKF, in collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other relevant authorities, has initiated an official investigation into the matter. The Federation remains committed to upholding integrity in football and ensuring a fair and transparent process for all involved parties. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
Match-fixing is deeply rooted in Kenyan football
In May last year, FKF’s integrity department suspended three match officials, one player and a team manager over alleged involvement in match-fixing.
The three referees were Meshack Omondi, Jacqueline Barongo and Stephene Adeya. FC Talanta veteran keeper Kevin Olang’o and Kibra United team manager Abdulkarim Amele were banished from all football-related activities indefinitely.
“Football Kenya Federation wishes to inform all its members and the general public that the FKF Integrity Department has opened investigations into alleged match-fixing involvement by the following individuals:
Referees are Mr. Meshack Omondi, Ms. Jacqueline Barongo, and Mr. Stephen Adeya. FC Talanta keeper Kevin Olang’o and Kibra United team manager Abdulkarim Amele,” read the statement from the federation.
The five were said to have committed the offense during the match between FC Talanta and Nairobi City Stars two weeks ago. The match was staged at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, where City Stars won the duel 3-0.
The match had its fair share of drama as three penalties were awarded in the game, two to FC Talanta which they missed, and one to City Stars which was converted late in the game by Bajaber Mohamed.
In 2021, Raymond Onyango, Samuel Mwaura, Isaac Memusi, Collins Opiyo,andJapheth Juma were suspended.
According to former Nairobi City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti, the allegations being levelled against Matasi, is an eye opener to the federation to do whatever they can to end the match-fixing vice that has become an incurable disease in Kenyan football.
“I know it is deeply rooted, but something can be done before it gets to our young upcoming players,”Muyoti told Flashscore. “FKF please, do whatever you can to make sure that match-fixing doesn’t continue killing our beautiful game.”
Muyoti, who is a former Harambee Stars captain best remembered for lifting the Castle Lager Cup trophy in 2002, continued: “Match-fixing has become too rampant in Kenya, something urgent must be done about it, and the unfortunate part, it involves all stakeholders of the game.
“We are losing some of our best players, coaches and administrators to this device. We all need to stand up and say no to match-fixing, the value of the game will never be the same. For instance, I cannot go into a match knowing the result, unless I have a different agenda. Let us all say a big no to match-fixing.”
Former Harambee Stars striker Boniface Ambani called on the Kenyan government to enact a law in parliament that could help deal with match-fixing in the country once and for all.
Ambani said: “This thing is clearly killing our beloved soccer. I talked recently about how our goalkeepers have been conceding very cheap and silly goals. The clip doing rounds, one of our top keepers, in a match compromising position, has actually compounded my fears.”
Homeboyz will stand by Matasi until proven guilty
Homeboyz ‘s honcho Cleophas Shimanyula has dismissed match-fixing allegations against goalkeeper Matasi, saying there is no evidence to support the claims.
Shimanyula defended Matasi, stating that since joining Homeboyz from Kenya Police FC, he has not been involved in any integrity issues.
“Let it be very clear, I don’t entertain match-fixing in my team, I am one person, who has fought the vice in the team for many years now, I am on record as to have fired players because of match-fixing, but we don’t want to move to take action against Matasi until what is being said against him is proved to everyone,” Shimanyula said.
“What I have managed to see is just a video (with Matasi face), just going doing round on social media, we don’t know, or cannot ascertain the motive behind the video, we don’t know if the video is real or it has been edited and crafted to demean the career of Matasi, we need to get to the root of the video and the content in it, before as a club we can take action.”
Shimanyula continued: “Matasi just joined us a month ago, he has been able to play three matches and out of which he kept clean sheets, he also saved two penalties during our domestic Cup fixture, I don’t want to defend him, he may have committed the crime while at his former team.
“He played for Harambee Stars, he played for Police, so maybe the two should have helped in the investigations, but for us Homeboyz, I haven’t seen anything fishy from Matasi since he arrived. I thank FKF for taking up the matter and as Homeboyz, we will be ready to help in investigations.”
Matasi played for Kabrass United, AFC Leopards, Posta Rangers and Tusker before signing a three-year contract with Ethiopian Premier League club Saint George in October 2018. He later returned to Kenya, playing for Tusker and Kenya Police.
After dropping down the pecking orders at Police, he moved to Homeboyz during the just concluded transfer window after penning a two year-renewable contract. He made his debut for Kenya in 2017 and had played 35 matches before he was dropped by the then coach Engin Firat, after Kenya’s 4-1 defeat against Cameroon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture.
He was recently overlooked by new coach Benni McCarthy, as Ian Otieno, who turns out for Richards Bay in South Africa, started in the two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Gambia away and Gabon at home.