Kenya’s football administration is once again in turmoil, with the ongoing legal disputes and internal conflicts within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) pushing the sport into a deeper constitutional crisis.
The recent suspension threat from FIFA due to government interference is just the last few episodes in a saga that has plagued Kenyan football for years.
Government Interference and Legal Battles
The crisis escalated when the High Court in Mombasa stopped the FKF’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled for March 16, after sports journalist Milton Nyakundi questioned the legality of the federation’s top officials convening the meeting.
FIFA’s subsequent warning to FKF, emphasizing the violation of its statutes due to third-party interference, puts Kenya’s football on the brink of suspension. Such a suspension would not only prevent Kenya from hosting the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations but would also ban all representative teams and affiliated clubs from international competitions.
Court of Appeal’s Ruling and Ongoing Disputes
Further complicating the situation, the Court of Appeal has prevented the FKF from conducting its AGM until a significant legal challenge by Nyakundi is resolved. This legal stalemate underscores the internal dysfunction within FKF, which has been marred by scandals, including a previous suspension from global football activities in 2022 due to government interference.
The ongoing disputes threaten to destabilize Kenyan football further, risking exclusion from future international competitions, including the World Cup.
Calls for Normalization Committee
In response to the chaos, local sports stakeholders gathered at the Kenya Institute Of Curriculum Development in Nairobi. The meeting, convened by National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) president Paul Tergat, concluded with a strong proposal to dissolve FKF and replace it with a Normalization Committee. This committee aims to restore order in Kenyan football governance and address the myriad issues plaguing the federation.
Former FKF officials and other stakeholders emphasized the urgency of forming a Normalization Committee through NOCK and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with FIFA’s involvement.
They argued that the FKF’s National Executive Committee (NEC), despite being expelled and losing a high court case challenging their removal, has failed to provide a clear timeline for upcoming elections. The FKF’s insistence on using a controversial 2020 Electoral Code further erodes confidence in the fairness of the electoral process.
The Untouchable Nick Mwendwa
A particularly troubling aspect of this crisis is the apparent immunity of FKF President Nick Mwendwa from accountability. Despite the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) presenting a file of Mwendwa’s corruption scandals to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), no action has been taken.
This raises serious questions about the judicial system’s ability to hold FKF officials accountable and reinforces the perception of a deeply entrenched culture of impunity within the federation.
The current state of football administration in Kenya is dire, with legal battles, internal conflicts, and government interference threatening to derail the sport entirely. The only viable solution is the immediate formation of a Normalization Committee by the government and FIFA.
This committee would be tasked with restoring order, ensuring free and fair elections, and rebuilding the credibility of Kenyan football governance. Without such intervention, Kenya risks sinking deeper into a constitutional crisis, jeopardizing not just the future of the sport but also the country’s reputation on the international stage.
It is time for all stakeholders, including the government, FIFA, and NOCK, to take decisive action. The mismanagement and corruption within FKF cannot continue unchecked, and those responsible must be held accountable. Only through a concerted and urgent effort can Kenyan football hope to emerge from this crisis and achieve the stability and integrity it so desperately needs.
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