FIFA Lifts Ban On Kenya After Meeting Demands

A ban preventing Kenya from taking part in international soccer activities has been lifted after meeting FIFA demands.

In a letter seen by Pindula News, FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura told Otieno that the ban had been discussed by the Bureau of the FIFA Council last Friday and confirmed the suspension had been lifted. Reads the letter:

Lifting of the suspension of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF)

Dear General Secretary.

We would like to inform you that the situation of the FKF was submitted to the Bureau of the FIFA Council thereinafter the Bureau) 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. had 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 leadership.

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In view of these circumstances, the Bureau of the Council decided on 25 November 2022 to lift the suspension of the FKF with immediate effect Upon the lifting of the suspension, a FIFA-CAF mission will be deployed to Nairobi in order to define the next steps for the FKF and to also meet with the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Sports. Further details will be communicated accordingly and in due course. Finally, the lifting of the suspension of the FKF lakes place without prejudice to the ongoing investigations and court proceedings at national level.

We thank you for taking note of the above and welcome this positive outcome. Yours faithfully, FIFA

Fatma Samoura Secretary General

Some Context:

The suspension was imposed after Kenya’s sports ministry disbanded the country’s football federation (FKF) over alleged misappropriation of funds and appointed a caretaker committee in November 2021.

The sanction meant the Harambee Stars were barred from qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, Ababu Namwamba, the cabinet secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, reinstated FKF vice-president Doris Petra and general secretary Barry Otieno to their positions and control of FKF offices handed back to its board – as demanded by Fifa.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe which faces a similar situation is adamant it won’t give in to FIFA’s demands. 

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