Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki Mwinyihaji has tabled a petition from the County Football Association in Parliament to have the Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) National Executive Committee (NEC) disbanded.
In his statement, the politician said it is a high priority for the current NEC to be disbanded to allow a new election of committee members.
“Secondly, (we also call for) an overhaul of the Public Finance Management for sports, arts and social development fund regulations for 2018 to cater for sports and arts exclusively. Thirdly, through the oversight mandate of the Senate ensures that Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture, and Heritage obeys the court order on FKF and finally, (the petition) recommends the alignment of the FKF constitution with Kenyan and International sport laws as ratified by Kenya,” said Senator Faki.
The Senator also accused the Cabinet Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture, Ababu Namwamba, for breaking the law by reinstating the NEC that had been disbanded by former Sports cabinet secretary Amina Mohamed.
The November 2021 disbandment was part of measures the former Cabinet Secretary undertook to deal with allegations of alleged graft at FKF and misuse of power by FKF president Nick Mwendwa. Ms Mohamed then appointed a caretaker committee which was to oversee the Federation matters for six months.
The NEC moved to the High Court to challenge their disbandment which they termed as illegal but the petition was thrown out.
The Court found that Amina had acted within her mandate under the Sports Act to disband the NEC and appoint a caretaker committee. The court also found that the NEC had been given an opportunity to be heard and an Inspection Report was carried out in accordance with the law, therefore their petition lacked merit and was dismissed.
Upon his appointment as a CS, Ababu Namwamba reinstated the same National Executive Committee members despite it being procedurally disbanded. The move by Senator Faki to seek to disband the FKF NEC comes a few months into CS Namwamba’s tenure. This same move by the Senator could bring fresh spotlight on FKF president Nick Mwendwa who recently resumed office after successfully battling off economic crimes in court.
This petition also comes at a time Kenya placed a bid to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
