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A 15 member committee has been appointed by Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed to handle affairs of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), a move that is in breach of FIFA Statutes.
The statutes of FIFA are clear about non-government interference in football. Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.
The committee led by former director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Aaron Ringera six months to steady the sinking ship that is FKF.
Other members of the committee are: General Retired Moses Oyugi, Fatma Adan, Philip Musyimi, Anthony Isayi, Elisha Kiplagat and Hassan Haji, Fredrick Tureisa, Mwangi Muthee, Neddy Atieno, Ali Amour, Titus Kasuve, Richard Omwela, Bobby Ogolla and JJ Masiga.
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The move comes after CS Amina received the audit report on FKF (which is yet to be made public) from Sports Registrar Rose Wasike.
What do FIFA rules state?
FIFA has the mandate to control association football worldwide, in all its aspects. This mandate is delegated to the national association, to control association football at the national level.
Football Federations are expected to manage, control and developing football as a game and also the organisation of the game in general.
The associations have the obligation to do it on their own, in an autonomous way without outside interference, from the government or any other parties. In general, political interference is when a government tries to take direct control.
What are the consequences?
If found guilty of political interference, Kenya risks being banned from participating in international competitions for an unknown period.
Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Chan are some examples of countries that have in the past been punished for Government interference.
Chad, the latest of the three was banned after the country’s minister of Youth and Sports took away powers and responsibilities from the Chad Football Association (FTFA), a similar move that CS Mohammed has pulled.
The suspension was only lifted in six months later after the Government reinstated the powers delegated to the FTFA.
Chadian government authorities were also forced to repeal their decision to establish a national committee for the temporary management of football.
Time will only tell whether CS Mohammed's actions will spell doom for Kenyan football or not.