Football mismanagement: Senate summons FKF President Nick Mwendwa for second time in 3 months
Football Kenya Federation’s President Nick Mwendwa is set to appear before the Senate for the second time within three months to answer questions regarding the management of football and resources in the country.
According to a telegraphic address from the Parliament Office of the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Mwendwa is expected to appear before the Senate on November 14, 2023, at 11 am at the Impala Conference Room at the Kenyatta International Convention Center in regards to a petition filed regarding the mismanagement of football in Kenya.
“We refer to the meeting of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare held on October 5, 2023, on the petition concerning the mismanagement of football in the country by the Football Kenya Federation, at which you were present. During the meeting, the Committee resolved that the petitioners and the Football Kenya Federation engage in dialogue, to address the issues raised in the petition and report back to the Committee within 30 days,” read the statement in part.
It went on to state that at a meeting held on October 24, 2023, the Committee deliberated on the matter and resolved to invite him to the KICC meeting to update the Senate on the progress of the matter.
“You may be accompanied to the meeting by five other persons you deem necessary to assist you in responding to the information sought by the Committee,” concluded the statement.
Mr Wilfred Marori, the Nairobi County Football Assembly Secretary was also summoned.
According to prior Nairobi News reports, Mr Mwendwa had been on the spot for financial misappropriation of FKF funds for years now. He faced arrests and disbandment of the FKF to pave the way for a caretaker committee in 2021 onwards.
However, earlier this year, he was acquitted of 44 accusations in which it was alleged he misappropriated Sh 38 million marked for the development of football in the country.
Having held the leadership for two consecutive terms of four years each, the defiant Mr Mwendwa is also on the spot of whether he will contest in the upcoming February 2024 FKF elections to retain his seat considering he is barred by law from doing so. Former football Macdonald Mariga, US-based ex-footballer Samuel Owino Kempes, ex-FKF president Sam Nyamweya, and Gor Mahia Secretary Sam Ocholla are among those who have declared interest in contesting in the upcoming FKF election.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba recently told the Senate he expects the polls to be held on or before February 2024 after several football associations in the country wrote to him to complain about the delays in announcing the election date, lack of election preparations on FKF’s part and demanding assurances that the election would be free and fair.
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