World football governing body, Fifa has lifted the suspension it imposed on Kenya on February 24.
In a letter addressed to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Secretary General Barry Otieno, Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura said the world football governing body arrived at the decision to lift the suspension following the reinstatement into office of the FKF Executive Committee by new Sports CS Ababu Namwamba.
“We would like to inform you that the situation of the FKF was submitted to the Bureau of Fifa Council for consideration and decision on 25 November, 2022,”said Samoura in the letter sent on Monday.
“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 leaders.
“In view of the circumstances, the Bureau of the council decided on 25 November 2022, to lift the suspension of the FKF with immediate effect.”
Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba upon taking office after the August General Elections said he will be in constant touch with Gianni Infantino led association in a bid to have Kenya reinstated back to world football.
Following this move, 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.
In March this year,FIFA ratified the suspension of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) following a landslide poll by the FIFA Council Members as a total of 198 FIFA Member Associations voted in favour of Kenya being suspended while only a single member voted for the country to avoid the suspension.
This was a result of the action by the former admnistration led by ex Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr Amina Mohamed who disbanded Football Kenya Federation based on recommendation by the sports registrar Rose Wasike who tabled an inspection report of financial impropriety on the side of FKF under the tutelage of Nick Mwendwa by then.
Ambassador Mohamed installed a caretaker and subsequently a transition committee to run football interimly.
