FIFA has banned Kenya and Zimbabwe from all international footballing activities for what it termed as government Interference.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, speaking on Thursday evening said, “We had to suspend two of our member associations — Kenya and Zimbabwe. Both for government interference in the activities of the football associations of these associations. These associations are suspended from footballing activities with immediate effect and they know what needs to be done for them to be re-admitted or for the suspension to be lifted.”

A letter from FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura addressed to Barry Otieno of the disbanded FKF office reads in part, “on the basis of article J4 paragraphs 1 i) and 3 of the FIFA Statutes —as well as article 16 paragraph 1, under which the FIFA Council may, without a vote of the Congress, temporarily suspend with immediate effect a member association that seriously violates its obligations — the FIFA Council decided to suspend the FKF with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes.

Furthermore, and without prejudice to the ongoing investigations into the allegations of corruption, the FIFA Council decided that the lifting of the suspension be subject to the following conditions:

The repeal of the Cabinet Secretary’s decision of 1 November 2021 appointing the caretaker committee in lieu of the elected FKF Executive Committee

FIFA‘s 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

Consequently, and in accordance with article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, FKF loses all its membership rights as of 24 February 2022 until further notice. FKF representative and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted. This also means that neither the FKF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA and/or CAF.

Finally, notwithstanding this suspension imposed on the FKF and in line with FIFA zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and any other unethical conduct, FIFA reiterates its commitment to cooperating with any ongoing investigations regarding FKF officials. FIFA will therefore remain at the disposal of the national authorities during the suspension period.

The ousted FKF office under Nick Mwendwa was under increased public scrutiny over its management style, particularly financial and governance issues that came to a head on Thursday 11 November 2021 when Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports – Amina Mohamed, upon receiving the report of a Government sponsored probe on the organization, disbanded the FKF, replacing it with a Caretaker Committee under the leadership of retired judge Aaron Ringera.

Soka25east.com