FKF inspection is in line with the law, nothing political – CS Amina

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has clarified the ongoing inspection of Football Kenya Federation has nothing to do with politics but a legal process guided by the Sports Act.

The CS assured was appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, just days after directing Sports Registrar Rose Wasike to conduct an inspection on the affairs of the FKF pursuant to Section 52 (1) of the Sports Act.

The process that comes after stakeholders cried that public funds were being misappropriated at Kandanda House, among other governance malpractices, is set to be completed by November 2.

“I invoked my powers under the law because we wanted to ensure that the process was legal, just and fair, and that no other externalities would influence the process,” she said.

“I want to assure you that we are going to go through all the process, so that we don’t jump into conclusions without due process, within the Ministry. We are not thinking of any politics affecting anything, what has driven us to do what we are doing now is actually the stakeholders that have a major interest in the sport as the government does.

“If the audit says there is nothing amiss, everything is okay then we will know what we will do. If there are issues there then we will address them together with the stakeholders that we are having discussions with because we feel they are not in full compliance with the Sports Act.”

Committee Chairman Patrick Makau and Dan Wanyama had questioned whether the Ministry intended to crack the whip on other sports federations that have exhibited wayward tendencies at the expense of the athletes.

Makau said the National Assembly will not tolerate a situation where the country’s athletes would be caught in the mix particularly because of misunderstandings or politicizing of football matters.

“It is true that, we have received very many complaints from many federations, but of late we have seen you have dealt with the FKF, we don’t know whether it’s because of the 6-0 loss to Mali, or there is another reason,” Makau said.

“But as a Committee we will not sit here on FKF or football in this country be politicized. We want a process that is procedural, that is legal in settling matters.”

“I wanted the CS to confirm whether this axe that has started falling at FKF will also go to other Federations as well or it will stop there,” said Wanyama, a former captain of the national men’s volleyball team.

PHOTO/COURTESY