In a candid and emotional interview on the Tiki Taka Show, Harambee Stars and Kenya Police FC defender Abud Omar revealed how the seismic Gen Z protests of June 2024 snatched away a dream contract worth about Sh4 million per month, a transfer to Major League Soccer that evaporated as the country convulsed in unrest.
A dream on the brink
Omar, a globe‑trotting left‑back with spells in Greece, Bulgaria, Belgium and Romania, says he was on the verge of sealing a life‑changing move to the United States when the nationwide demonstrations erupted.
The Gen Z movement, fuelled by opposition to the Finance Bill 2024 and organised largely online, swept across Nairobi and major towns between 18 and 25 June, culminating in the dramatic breach of Parliament on 25 June. That moment, Omar says, changed everything.
Visas stalled, opportunity lost
“As the deal was being finalised, the American embassy closed and said they were only dealing with special cases; they were prioritising Americans who wanted to travel back home, and that is how the deal collapsed,” Omar explained.
With embassy operations suspended and visa processing frozen, the paperwork that would have sent him to MLS stalled indefinitely. Weeks of protests, repeated shutdowns and rising tensions meant the window for the transfer slammed shut.
The final blow
Omar held out hope that calm would return quickly, but the unrest intensified.
“The protests were happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the situation kept escalating,” he recalled. By the time things began to settle, the MLS club had moved on. “I spoke to the coach, and he told me, ‘I’m sorry, I will have to sign another player. That player came in and scored on his debut, and that was the end of my chance,’” Omar said, describing how a tactical fit and a timely goal sealed his fate.
From heartbreak to homegrown glory
What began as a bitter blow has since taken on a different hue. Forced to remain in Kenya, Omar became a central figure in Kenya Police FC’s title charge, lifting the FKF Premier League crown — a milestone that had eluded him for years. The domestic triumph softened the sting of the lost MLS payday and added a new chapter to a career already rich with silverware.
A decorated career beyond borders
Omar’s trophy cabinet is far from empty. He won the Super League Greece 2 title with Ionikos FC in 2020–21, a success that propelled the club into Greece’s top flight, and he lifted the Bulgarian Cup with Slavia Sofia during his time in Eastern Europe.
Still, aside from Kenya Police, Ionikos remains the only other club where Omar has celebrated a league championship — a reminder that his journey has always blended near‑misses with hard‑earned triumphs.
Looking ahead
Abud Omar’s story is a vivid illustration of how forces off the pitch can reshape a player’s destiny. The Gen Z protests cost him a lucrative overseas contract, but they also rerouted him to a domestic title and a renewed place in the national conversation. For Omar, the lesson is clear: careers can pivot on chaos, and sometimes the detours lead to unexpected glory.
