Nick Mwendwa Tells FIFA He Is Back As FKF President

Nick Mwendwa has returned as the President of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) after he was kicked out of office following a directive by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed in 2021.

Mwendwa wrote to FIFA President Gianni Infantino 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 has made significant progress towards complying with the FIFA directive of February 24, 2022, with a meeting scheduled in the coming days with the newly elected Kenyan government to actualise the lifting of FIFA's suspension and Kenya's return to international football.

However, his decision could ignite another standoff with the FKF Transition Committee, which was formed to take over his roles.

On October 14, 2021, CS Amina Mohamed directed the Registrar of Sports to undertake an inspection of FKF and also formed a 15-member caretaker team, headed by retired judge Aaron Ringera to take charge of operations at the federation for six months as the investigations continued.

As a consequence, Kenya was suspended by FIFA over government interference in the running of the sport.

The country was excluded from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers which kicked off in June and cannot host or play in any international matches under the FIFA ban.

FIFA had asked the country's leadership to address the ailings in order for the ban to be lifted, but CS Amina maintained that the transition committee was formed to stabilise the football mess in Kenya. 

She further affirmed that the decision to disband FKF fully adhered to the Laws of Kenya and followed the legal process.

"We tried on many occasions to bring the matter which had festered for long to the attention of FIFA with no success as well.

"It seemed to us at times that FIFA and FKF were reading from the same book. Football in Kenya had deteriorated at all levels due to this mismanagement and had led to a public outcry. The Government has a responsibility to its citizenry to act in the public interest at all times," she addressed.