Michael Kimani
By: Michael Kimani
The football fraternity has endured much in the last 3 years since the disputed and high divisive 2019 FKF elections. The field of play of our beautiful game has no longer been in the beautiful grass fields but rather in law courts. The dusty Sunday afternoons that brought us joy at the Camp Toyoyo are a thing of the past. 15th November 2021 shall long be in our minds as a caretaker committee was appointed to take over the disbanded FKF leadership but 5 months later nothing substantive to celebrate. Five months later Kenya has been suspended by FIFA, Leagues stopped and doom is our only hope left. The caretaker committee has failed to bring the much-needed stability in the federation. What can the footballing community say?
Kenyans are disappointed, patience is running out, the Kenyan population now believes the government has no solution. Otieno needs to dribble with the ball, Kamau wants to hit that penalty and Nafula just wants that ball on her feet. Kenya as it stands cannot participate in international competitions; our local leagues have now been turned into friendlies. Tusker and the mighty Thika Queens can no longer show case their talents to the outside world, it is indeed getting dark. Our referees led by Mr. Cheruiyot have recently been snubbed for the Qatar 2022 world cup. Football Kenya Federation (FKF) branches and County Football Associations (CFA) are battling it out for the soul of football management. The FKF- CFA stalemate is not yet over there are two parallel leagues at the county level; the average player at Huruma grounds, Eldoret is just but stranded. Let’s take a look at the origin of all this
FKF vs CFA
This is one of the most intriguing battles within the football community in the country. Compliant CFA vs Defiant FKF. This battle dates back to the 2019 elections where the Football Kenya Federation denied sub branches (counties at the time) a chance to participate in the elections. The Sub branches took a U-turn and decide to register the respective counties as County Football Association as stipulated by the Sports Act 2013. As of 10th April 2022 over 40 counties had registered as County Football Association. FKF still continued running and maintaining branches at the county level. This is the origin of two rival bodies claiming their legal status of running football at their respective counties.
Government vs FIFA
The Nick Mwendwa led FKF after declining to comply with the Sports Act 2013 sought homage in the FIFA statues. At the height of the former Kariobangi Sharks Chief the federation claimed that the Kenyan law played second fiddle to the FIFA statues. This prompted the government to institute investigation to the football running mogul in the country. Upon the completion of the report, it unearthed serious corruption scandals, mismanagement of funds and disregard to the Kenyan law. The report recommended the investigation of FKF officials and the appointment of a caretaker committee to take up the leadership of the federation. In what was viewed as government interference Kenya was suspended by FIFA governing council on 24th February later ratified on 31st March 2022.
Resolving the Stalemate
The stalemates as currently are can only be through continuous stakeholder engagements. FKF branches must reach out of CFAs and engage them direct as the government engages with FIFA directly. Various stakeholders must come on board and ensure that this is a success. The CFAs and the FKF branches must reach common ground on the running of football at the grass root. In doing this the interest of the players and the clubs must come first. The cold in the lack of international football is hurting the government must directly engage with FIFA. Both sides of the political divide must agree to compromise for the sake of the Kenyan people and in the spirit of sportsmanship. The government in doing this must not compromise its commitment to the rule of law.
Conclusion,
Conclusively it is our social responsibility to ensure that football is back and rolling. Cooperates need to come on board, stakeholders need to board, civil societies need to board and in the long run Kenyans need to board. To deliver this course we must work together rally together and set aside self-interest for the sake of our great nation and the popular sport.
Michael Kimani
The Author is a Sports Consultant can be throug
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