FIFA has warned of imposing further sanctions on Kenya’s Harambee Stars if the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) does not hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In a letter dated March 16th, FIFA directed FKF to convene the meeting in order to set a date for the elections. Failure to do so promptly could lead to additional sanctions, possibly including suspension.
The FKF’s AGM, which was initially scheduled for March 16th, was halted by a court order issued just a day before the planned meeting. Sports journalist Milton Nyakundi filed a petition challenging the legality of the FKF proceeding with the meeting.
Lady Justice Olga Sewe from a Mombasa court classified the case as urgent, with a hearing conducted on March 18th and the final verdict expected on April 4th.
FIFA labelled the court’s intervention as third-party interference, asserting that it contradicted FIFA’s statutes.
The global football governing body warned that such outside involvement in FKF elections might lead to severe repercussions for the Harambee Stars football team.
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“Attempt by a third party to prevent the FKF AGM from taking place might be considered a violation of the above-mentioned principle, which would oblige our institution to bring the matter to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration of possible sanctions in line with the FIFA Statutes,” FIFA wrote in their statement.
“Please note that the infringement of the aforementioned provisions of the FIFA and CAF Statutes may give rise to grounds for the suspension of FKF irrespective of whether the infringement was attributed to FKF or not,” FIFA added.
FIFA issued strong directives to the Kenyan government, demanding the reversal of the decision to establish a caretaker committee to oversee football activities in Kenya.
“Repeal of the Cabinet Secretary’s decision of November 11, 2021, appointing the caretaker committee instead of the elected FKF Executive Committee,” read the letter in part.