Nick Mwendwa Broke Into FKF Offices- CS Amina

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president, Nick Mwendwa, has now been accused by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed of breaking into the federation's offices in Nairobi.

In a detailed statement on Tuesday, September 20, the CS denied any initial information that Mwendwa had accessed the premises as part of a resumption of duties as the FKF president.

"My attention has been drawn to a break-in at the FKF offices at Kasarani which was led by officials who were legally removed following an inspection by the Office of the Registrar," the statement read in part.

Heavy police and media presence outside FKF offices in Nairobi on September 20, 2022. /TWITTER.OLE TEYA

"The decision by the Ministry of Sports, Culture & Heritage on November 11, 2021, has since been upheld by the Ruling of the High Court of Kenya on May 10, 2022," Amina added, affirming that the FKF Transition Committee was still in charge of football activities in Kenya.

She added that the decision was not vacated or reversed, thus FKF was in office illegally.

She then proceeded to list down the reasons why FKF was disbanded, which triggered a decision by FIFA to suspend Kenya from international football. 

She mentioned in the press release that FKF misappropriated funds advanced to it by the government, FIFA, CAF among other sponsors. 

The Mwendwa-led commission had also failed to submit annual audit reports to the sports registrar and did not adhere to the Sports Act and other relevant laws. 

"FKF also refused to amend the FKF Constitution in line with the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Sports Act, Sports Registrar Regulations and any other relevant law, was un-procedural in the hiring and sacking of coaches and resisted registering County Sports Associations and stuck to non-registered regional organizations," Amina said more about FKF

She also accused the federation of objection to the registration of FKF county and national officials illegally elected in 2019 and 2020 respectively, the irregular appointment of board and council members, non-disclosure of grants from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and disparity in rewarding male and female teams and clubs. 

Mwendwa, FKF CEO Barry Otieno arrived at Kandanda House located in Kasarani, near the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, alongside a contingent of police officers and members of the media. They had found the entrance of the compound locked, forcing them to bypass the security mechanisms at the gate to get in.

They made their way into the building which had been deserted for nearly a year, where Mwendwa resumed duties, which was one of FIFA's demands before it can lift the suspension of Kenya from international football.

Mwendwa wrote to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday, September 9 that he had resumed his duties as the head of Kenya's football body.

He explained that he was cleared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) which was probing him over corruption claims. 

"Reference is made to my letter dated November 29, 2021, with regard to the interim transfer of my powers and responsibilities as FKF President to the FKF Vice President.

"In this regard, following the withdrawal of charges by the Directorate of Public Prosecution on July 8, 2022, I hereby wish to inform your good office that I have resumed my duties as the FKF president, with immediate effect, in accordance with Article 42 of the FKF constitution (2017)," his letter read in part.

Mwendwa added that FKF made significant progress towards complying with the FIFA directive of February 24, 2022, with a meeting that was to be scheduled with the newly elected Kenyan government to actualise the lifting of FIFA's suspension and Kenya's return to international football.