The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has requested the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to unfreeze its bank accounts, which were closed due to a misappropriation of funds case.
The federation’s general secretary, Barry Otieno, has pleaded for the reopening of FKF’s accounts at both Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and NCBA Bank to allow for the smooth rollout of football activities in the country.
Otieno’s request comes at a critical time for FKF as FIFA is expected to remit up to Sh800 million in grants for development projects and the running of its secretariat.
The federation has been experiencing interruptions in its operations following the arrest and arraignment of its president, Nick Mwendwa, for economic crimes in November 2021.
Mwendwa’s case followed a recommendation by an oversight committee probing the federation’s books, which led to the disbanding of FKF by then Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.
The case against Mwendwa for a Sh38 million fraud charge is yet to be determined, and he is currently out on a Sh5 million cash bail.
The FKF general secretary argues that the case against Mwendwa was dropped and the reinstatement of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and lifting of the suspension imposed on Kenya by FIFA is enough evidence that the federation is now in good books with its major financiers.
The closure of FKF’s bank accounts has significantly affected the federation’s operations. With FIFA expected to remit up to Sh800 million, the FKF needs to operate efficiently to ensure that the funds are utilized optimally to develop football in the country.
The federation has been working to address the issues that led to the closure of its accounts, and the recent development of the NEC’s reinstatement and lifting of the suspension imposed on Kenya by FIFA is an indication of its commitment to good governance.
However, it is yet to be confirmed whether the DCI has granted Otieno’s request to unfreeze FKF’s accounts. If the request is granted, the FKF can resume its operations and focus on developing football in the country with the expected FIFA grants.
