FIFA lifts Kenya's global suspension from football

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts Ababu Namwamba. [Jonah Onyango]

Kenya will resume international football activities after FIFA lifted the global suspension on November 25.

The world governing body imposed a ban in February this year after Kenya's sports ministry disbanded the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over alleged misappropriation of funds and appointed a caretaker committee in November 2021.

In a letter from Secretary-General Fatma Samoura to FKF CEO Barry Otieno, a delegation comprising FIFA and CAF will be deployed to Kenya to define the next steps.

"We would like to inform you that the situation of the FKF was submitted to the Bureau of Fifa Council for consideration and decision on 25 November 2022," FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura said in a statement.

"On this occasion, the Bureau was informed of the official letter dated 4 November 2022 from the FKF General Secretary Barry Otieno to Fifa confirming that the Kenyan government as represented by the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Sports, the Hon. Ababu Namwamba reinstated the FKF Executive committee with immediate effect.

"The bureau also noted that the FKF General secretary further asserted that the FKF offices had been handed back to the association's elected leaders.

"In view of the circumstances, the Bureau of the council decided on 25 November 2022, to lift the suspension of the FKF with immediate effect.

"Upon the lifting of the suspension, a Fifa-Caf mission team will be deployed to Nairobi in order to define the next steps for FKF and to also meet with the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Sports."

Former Sports Minister Amina Mohamed set up a caretaker committee to run Kenyan football after an investigation revealed financial irregularities at the FKF.

FKF officials were soon locked out of their offices as the committee took over the running of Kenyan football, and Mwendwa stepped aside.

However, new Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on November 4 re-instated the disbanded Football Kenya Federation.

Fifa demanded the government do away with the caretaker committee and that control of the FKF offices be handed back to a federation now led by Mwendwa's vice-president, Doris Petra.