We’ll keep engaging FIFA for a lasting solution, says CS Amina

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has criticised world governing football body FIFA over its decision to suspend Kenya indefinitely from world football on the grounds of government interference with football activities in the country.

In a statement two days after Fifa President Gianni Infantino announced Kenya and Zimbabwe had been suspended,the CS said FIFA should allow Kenya to clean up the rot and restore sanity in Kenyan football.

She however reiterated her commitment to continue engaging FIFA with a view of finding a lasting solution.

“We will continue cleaning up, putting systems of accountability in place as well as a draft constitution that is fully aligned to the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Fifa statutes and to good order and globally recognised values,” Amina said.

“We intend at the same time to engage Fifa as we have continued doing over the last three and a half months. We intend to keep it informed as we have done until now on the going cases, investigations and the actions that we are taking. We hope Fifa will reciprocate and keep Kenyans informed on actions they intend to take with respect to issues we have raised on suspected misappropriation of their resources.” part of the statement further read.

In a letter to the disbanded federation’s secretary general Barry Otieno on Thursday , FIFA asked the government to: “repeal of the Cabinet Secretary’s decision of 11 November 2021 appointing the caretaker committee in lieu of the elected FKF Executive Committee.”

The world governing body said it would only lift the suspension upon “receipt of confirmation from the FKF and its management, led by Vice-President Doris Petra and General Secretary Barry Otieno that the FKF and its premises are once more under their full and unconditional control.”

Sports Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, on November 11 last year disbanded the Nick Mwendwa-led Football Kenya Federation and installed a Caretaker Committee to, among other things, run football activities in accordance with the federation’s constitution.

According to the FIFA Statutes (2018), each member association is responsible to FIFA for any acts of the members of their bodies.

In June 2004, FIFA suspended Kenya for three months due to government interference.

Other countries that have faced a similar suspension from Fifa include Chad, Sierra Leonne, Pakistan and Peru.

With the suspension, Kenya will not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions.

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