FKF Suspends Five Referees Over Match-Fixing Allegations

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has provisionally suspended five FKF-PL five referees suspected to have been involved in match manipulation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, 31st July, the federation said that it had taken the step as a precautionary measure and in the interest of safeguarding the integrity of its leagues and other competitions.

The five, whose suspensions take effect immediately, are Samuel Mwaura, Isaac Memusi, Collins Opiyo, Japheth Juma, and Fifa referee Raymond Onyango.

“The federation’s Integrity Department, with the assistance of Fifa, has initiated preliminary investigations against the said individuals, with a view to establishing their involvement, if any, in the said match manipulation,” CEO Barry Otieno said in a statement.

“Even so, the federation remains confident in the integrity of the FKF-PL and has with the assistance of Fifa established and consistently continues to update, its match manipulation detection platform, with a view to protecting and safeguarding the integrity of all its competitions against global match-fixers.”

The suspension comes barely two months after the Fifa Disciplinary Committee expelled Zoo Kericho from the top league after being involved in match-fixing.

In February last year, Fifa also banned three Kakamega Homeboyz Club players for four years for being involved in match-fixing.

Moses Chikati, Festus Okiring, and Festo Omukoto were found guilty of involvement in match manipulation in violation of Article 69 par. 1 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (2017 ed.) (unlawfully influencing match results).