By Victor Kanayo
After an eight-month hiatus, World football governing body, FIFA, has reinstated Kenya back to its fold, meaning the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is now allowed to return to the international stage.
The ban was lifted on Monday November 28, 2022, three weeks after the Kenyan Government complied with FIFA directive and asked the global football body to lift the suspension.
The world governing body imposed a ban in February this year after Kenya’s sports ministry disbanded the FKF over alleged misappropriation of funds and appointed a caretaker committee in November 2021.
The move saw FKF President Nick Mwendwa implicated with misappropriation money meant for the sport and was arrested and arraigned in court.
The suspension left Kenya from taking part in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, just as their women’s football team also missed out of World Cup qualifier against Uganda.
In a letter from Secretary-General Fatma Samoura to FKF CEO Barry Otieno, a delegation comprising FIFA and CAF will be deployed to Kenya to define the next steps.
Part of the letter reads, “We would like to inform you that the situation of the FKF was submitted to the Bureau of Fifa Council for consideration and decision on 25 November 2022.
“On this occasion, the Bureau was informed of the official letter dated 4 November 2022 from the FKF General Secretary Barry Otieno to Fifa confirming that the Kenyan government as represented by the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Sports, the Hon. Ababu Namwamba reinstated the FKF Executive committee with immediate effect.
“The bureau also noted that the FKF General secretary further asserted that the FKF offices had been handed back to the association‘s elected leaders.
“Upon the lifting of the suspension, a FIFA/CAF mission team will be deployed to Nairobi in order to define the next steps for FKF and to also meet with the newly appointed cabinet Secretary for Sports.”
