Kenya risks losing the rights to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside neighbours Tanzania and Uganda, The country could also be barred from hosting the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (Chan), This comes after the world football governing body, Fifa threatened the East African nation with a second ban due to third-party interference.
Fifa took issue with a March 16 verdict by the Mombasa High Court, which ordered the suspension of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Annual General Meeting, In a letter written by chief member association officer, Kenny Jeane-Marie and sent to FKF secretary general Barry Otieno on Tuesday, the Zurich-based organisation instructed FKF to call the AGM immediately, The letter noted that the order of the Mombasa High Court dated March 15 which stopped the AGM appeared to amount to undue influence by third parties.
The High Court verdict was regarding a suit filed by sports journalist Milton Nyakundi questioning the legality of the federation to convene the event, The Fifa letter read in part: “As a result, and irrespective of the outcome of the hearing to take action on March 18, 2024, Fifa takes the view that any further attempt by a third party to prevent the FKF AGM from taking place might be considered a violation of to the above-mentioned principle which would oblige our institution to bring the matter to the attention of relevant Fifa bodies for consideration of possible sanctions in line with the statutes.”
“Given the foregoing, the FKF is directed to conduct its AGM soon and to continue working towards conducting the FKF elections later this year.” Fifa expressed sorrow that the AGM did not go forward as scheduled despite the FKF delegates and staff from the world football regulatory body having come to Nairobi to attend.
This is not the first time the country has courted trouble. Fifa suspended Kenya from all its operations in February 2022 following the decision by former Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to pressure out-of-office FKF officials led by President Nick Mwendwa over corruption charges on November 11, 2021.
