'There is no mismanagement,' insists KCA

The Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) has hit back at criticism, on Cricinfo and elsewhere, of its management practices.

The KCA denies any impropriety, and points out the progress made in Kenyan cricket over the last ten years, in which time they have moved from 21st to 10th in the world one-day rankings.

Answering criticism of its youth programmes, the KCA states: "KCA has been running a school cricket programme for both primary and secondary schools in Nairobi, where 10,000 children have been involved. From this program, age-group teams - i.e. Under 13, 15, 17, 19 - have been selected and constantly trained at the KCA academy at the Simba Union Club in Nairobi."

Moving to suggestions that some unions are little more than fronts for officials to perpetuate their membership on the executive, the KCA states: "KCA has a fully fledged operational office in Rift Valley province, based at Nakuru. Many youth tournaments/clinics and coaching courses have taken place. Clubs are playing competitive cricket. In Central Province where an operational office has been established at Thika Town, the following clubs are coming together to play competitive cricket: Thika Sports Club, Thika Gymkhana, Makuyu Sports Club, Nyeri Sports Club, Nyahururu Sports Club and Kiambu Sports Club.

"As far as KCA is concerned, there is no mismanagement. All the KCA activities are effectively being managed by the general manager and his team. The KCA accounts are always being approved at the Annual General Meetings convened on time."

The KCA does admit to some organisational difficulties: "The development of cricket in the country has also brought some problems. Established cricket clubs in the country, which for so many years participated in the localised provincial leagues, have yet to come to terms with the concept of a National League. KCA wishes to start a National League comprising of top club promoted from provincial league [sic]. This is the root cause of problems in Nairobi and Mombasa, where clubs are sticking to their provincial leagues. KCA is addressing this problem."

And the press release concludes on an optimistic note: "In order to bring harmony and tranquillity in cricket in Kenya, KCA will soon announce two important steps to be undertaken in the near future."