FKF set to return to office after finally agreeing with Government

• The FKF officials have an agreement with CS Ababu Namwamba
• Nick Mwendwa will not return until cleared by the courts
• The leagues are now scheduled to start soon

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been given a greenlight to return to office after finalizing talks with new Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, one year after they were hounded out of office by his predecessor Amina Mohamed.

After a final round of meetings on Friday, the CS announced the return to office formula agreed upon, which includes the re-opening of the FKF offices in Kasarani and a return to office for the officials, minus boss Nick Mwendwa.

This is in accordance to a letter from FIFA on February 24 that demanded the status quo of the Federation be retained and the Committees formed by former CS Amina be revoked.

“We need our football back but also not closing our eyes to certain realities. Realities of integrity, good governance in football management because at the end of the day the success and level of performance of football depends on certain irreducible minimums,” Namwamba said.

Mwendwa to sit out 

CS Ababu Namwamba addressing a press conference with FKF Officials

He added; “We have agreed that Petra (Doris) and Barry (Otieno) will run the Federation as Mwendwa clears up his issues in court. We have this in writing and we will communicate the same to FIFA. We have adhered to all the conditions set out by FIFA in their letter.”

Mwendwa said he was in agreement to first clear out his name in court before he can come back to office. After the Federation was hounded out of office, Mwendwa was numerously arrested and currently has a case in court over the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Federation.

“There have been efforts going on in court to get me to resolve the matter there and that has not been resolved. I have agreed a position with the CS. We stand for integrity as FKF and we want to be known as people who are not doing funny things,” Mwendwa said.

Upon the receipt of the letter, FIFA is then expected to act and send back communication to the Federation in the next seven days on the lifting of the suspension from international football.

Act in speed to resolve issues 

CS Ababu Namwamba addressing a press conference with FKF Officials

Ababu says he had to act with speed to ensure that the issue is resolved to save Kenya from possible oblivion in international football.

“I am a real football person. I am a sports person and I feel the pain in a real sense. Football is livelihood. Those young people who have not been on the pitch for one year have responsibilities to take care of. Freezing them out of football is literally sending them down the drain. For this to delay any further is unacceptable,” said the CS.

With that, the Federation officials will be back in office and the immediate task is to prepare for the start of all the seven tiers of football, which had been delayed as all leagues rebelled against Amina’s Committees in running theleagues.

Despite the lifting of the suspension, Kenya’s national teams will start for at least six or seven more months without international football as most qualifiers have already started at both senior and junior levels.