Kenya: FIFA warns of another international suspension over postponed AGM
Photo: Nick Mwendwa, Kenya football federation President
By Ifeanyi Eduzor, with agency reports
World governing body FIFA has warned Kenya risks another suspension from international football if the local federation is not allowed to hold its postponed Annual General Meeting (AGM).
This comes after Football Kenya Federation (FKF) secretary general Barry Otieno wrote to FIFA, informing the world ruling body of the order by the High Court in the coastal city of Mombasa to suspend the AGM that was scheduled for March 16 in Nairobi.
The aborted gathering that had seen delegates travel from across the country to Nairobi was meant to, among other items, set the date for the FKF elections planned for later this year before it was called off by the court order a day before.
In a letter dated March 26 addressed to Otieno and signed by Kenny Jean Marie, FIFA’s Chief Member Associations officer, and seen by Xinhua, FIFA has cautioned the east African nation on possible sanctions over what it terms as government interference in football.
The world governing body noted the court order violated Article 69 of the FKF Statues which stipulates football disputes will not be submitted to ordinary courts which is in line with FIFA and CAF laws against state interference.
“We have received with great concern the information regarding the postponement of the AGM due to the aforementioned court order issued 24 hours before the starting time of the said meeting. We further wish to underline that a violation of this obligation by the FKF or its members may lead to sanctions as provided for in the FIFA statutes, including possible sanctions,” part of the letter reads.
The news comes hours after Kenya’s senior men’s team, Harambee Stars, won a four-national invitational tournament in Malawi by beating Zimbabwe 3-1 in Tuesday’s final.
Plans to hold the elections in October were thrown into disarray when the AGM was cancelled with 76 delegates already in Nairobi to attend the AGM which was expected to be a stormy affair.
A sports journalist based in the United States had gone to court seeking to stop the meeting over what he argued was the improper constitution of the delegates.
A hearing of the matter was scheduled for March 18 but FIFA said it will proceed to issue sanctions “irrespective of the outcome”.
Kenya was suspended from international football in February 2022 after the government moved to charge FKF president Nick Mwendwa of corruption before being reinstated in November 2022.
The suspension saw the country locked out of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Another international suspension would lock the troubled nation out of the qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON and 2026 World Cup qualifiers that are due to start in June.
