Kenya facing ban as FIFA react to FKF disbandment

FIFA has expressed concerns over the disbandment of the Football Kenya Federation ( FKF) urging the government to stop interfering with the affairs of the federation to avoid being banned from international football.

In a letter addressed to FKF Secretary-General Barry Otieno, the sport's world governing body warned that Kenya faces ' consequences' after Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed disbanded the federation and formed a caretaker committee to handle football affairs.

"In case we consider the aforementioned decision by the Cabinet Secretary to appoint an FKF Caretaker Committee in lieu of the elected FKF Executive Committee is undoubtedly contrary to the above principles,” FIFA said in a letter signed by chief member associations officer Kenny Jean-Marie.

“Should this be considered as undue government interference in the international affairs of the FKF, it could lead to a ban imposed on the FKF by the competent Fifa body."

“In such a case, all of Kenyan football would suffer the consequences, and not just the individuals directly involved in the undue interference, in actuality, it is up to Fifa alone, on the basis of serious and well-founded information as well as under exceptional circumstances, to order the dismissal of executive bodies of member associations followed by the appointment of a normalization committee."

“Therefore, we kindly ask you to inform the Cabinet Secretary that in the event her decision to appoint an FKF Caretaker Committee and the correlated secretariat was to upheld, we would have no other choice than to submit the present matter to the Bureau of Fifa Council for consideration and decision.”

However, Fifa’s has invited both parties ; the FKF and the Ministry of Sports  for a roundtable meeting to discuss the matter and decide the way forward.

“Finally, and as referred to in the Cabinet Secretary’s letter of October 18, 2021, we would like to emphasise our willingness to hold a meeting with the FKF and the Ministry of Sports as soon as possible so as to address any concerns both sides may have and, altogether, to decide on a way forward for Kenyan football,” the letter concluded.

CS Amina disbanded FKF on Thursday hours after an inspection committee led by the Registrar of Sports which she had tasked with auditing the federation reported mismanagement of funds at the federation.

The Sports CS has since appointed a 15 member committee led by Justice ( Rtd) Aaron Ringera to steer the activities of the federations for the next 6 months.

Earlier FKF President Nick Mwendwa and his team were barred from accessing the federation's offices at Kandanda House in Nairobi.