National Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials on Tuesday officially returned to the federation’s headquarters at the Goal Project, Kasarani – Nairobi for the first time since November 2021.
Led by president Nick Mwendwa, the officials inspected the now shabby looking premises, with a message of hope that world football governing body will lift suspension on Kenya “within days.”
“The ban will be lifted, within days. Once it is lifted, by October Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets will get back to the pitch. We have been out for almost a year, our national teams could not play because of a few individuals who decided they could do whatever they wanted simply because they were in power.
“Today, it is a statement there is a God in heaven, if I can stand here at the Goal Project. There is a Government that has respect for the youth of Kenya and wants football back as soon as possible,” said Mwendwa.
Kenya was suspended by FIFA in February 2022 following disbandment of the federation by the Governemnt in November 2021, against its policy of non-interferance by third parties.
Outgoing Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed appointed a Caretaker Comittee to run football in the coutry, which has been overseeing local leagues wgich have not been recognised byeond Kenyan boarders for almost a year now.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa (Centre, front row) with his team at the FKF Goal Project on September 20, 2022 immediately after his return to the office since November 2021. Photo/Courtesy of FKF media.
Mwendwa has also said the new season will start in month’s time, after his team settles back in office.
“Our focus now is to make sure the ban is lifted. Once it is lifted other things will follow, but our leagues will officially start in a month’s time from today. All the leagues from Premier League to the six subsequent tiers will begin in a month’s time. I call upon those at the grassroots level to start preparing with this timeline in mind,” added Mwendwa, pouring cold water on Amina’s FKF Transition Committee which Monday evening communicated the season would statrt on October 1.
Mwendwa was flanked by his deputy Doris Petra, Secretary General Barry Otieno, National Executive Council members and part of the Secretariat as he returned to the office he was kicked out from, before he was arrested and charged for corruption.
It is yet to be established if the equipment at the offices are intact, at the time of publishing this account.
