Learning experience here -- the problem is NOT the new kernel. With a "workaround", the modules will compile for 3.9.1. I had forgotten that a couple of things changed earlier in the week:
(1) new kernel released, and
(2) major sid upgrades after Wheezy release.
Observing that the problem occurs prior to, or in conjunction with calling /usr/bin/vmware-gksu, resulting in no gksu request for the root password, I tried running the module-updater directly, as root, and the modules built with no problem.
I don't think the problem is in KDE -- I used my E-17 desktop to do this workaround. There is something in the Debian sid aka "Jessie" upgrades that is interfering with the gksu call -- that's the end of my ability to find the root cause.
Workaround:
Open a root terminal and issue
/usr/bin/vmware-modconfig --icon=vmware-player --appname=VMware
I am changing the thread title to better reflect the nature of the problem.