Namwamba reinstates ousted FKF officials as Mwendwa steps aside

Newly appointed Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has agreed to reinstate the ousted Football Kenya Federation officials including Vice President Doris Petra and Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno in a bid to have the country’s football suspension lifted by FIFA as President Nick Mwendwa agrees to step aside due to his ongoing court case.

In a joint meeting held on Friday with officials from FKF, Namwamba revealed that the government had agreed to meet the demands set by FIFA in their letter to the country back on 24 February 2022 where the world governing body demanded for the return of the two officials to office.

"We have come to an understanding which I will refer to in three parts. 1. The government has made a commitment to meet the conditions set by FIFA so that the suspension can be lifted to see our football back.

2. That FKF will communicate to FIFA regarding the understanding between them and the government on conditions that FIFA set. They have been put down in writing by FKF and will be conveyed to FIFA shortly.

3. Nick Mwendwa commits to acknowledge and abide by the commitments agreed by FKF and government. Mwendwa will respect the arrangement as indicated in the understanding between government and FIFA until the court case he faces in court is resolved,” Namwamba said.

Additionally, FKF confirmed to FIFA about the demands they had set back in February which would pave way for the indefinite suspension imposed on the country to be lifted.

“We are, therefore, pleased to confirm that the Government has fulfilled the aforementioned conditions as set out by the FIFA Council, as part of the ongoing efforts by Government to allow Kenya's return to international football.

In this regard, the Federation will in the coming days communicate the next steps, including the status of the just concluded 2021/2022 league season and scheduled dates for the kick off of the 2022/2023 league season,” the letter by FKF read.

Namwamba revealed that they would afterwards wait for official communication from FIFA after meeting the demands they had issued to the country.

"We expect that Fifa will respond with speed to the communication which will be released to them after this presser. We will continue to engage with them even on other issues," he said.