The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has threatened to impose a sanction on Kenya if the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) fails to proceed with its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In a letter dated March 26, FIFA ordered FKF to hold a meeting and establish a date for its elections, cautioning that any further delay could result in sanctions, including potential suspension.
FKF had initially planned to hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 16; however, the meeting was halted by an order from the Mombasa High Court.
This action came after sports journalist Milton Nyakundi filed a petition challenging the legality of the federation to conduct the meeting, prompting the court to intervene a day before the scheduled exercise.
Upon filing the case at the Mombasa court, the hearing was certified as urgent by Lady Justice Olga Sewe and was set for March 18 with the ruling being awaited on April 4, 2024.
FIFA termed the involvement of the Mombasa Court as an interference by a third party and thus, the court's directive contravened the footballing body's statutes.
According to FIFA, further involvement of third parties such as the court in determining the fate of the FKF elections could prompt it to take stern action against Kenya.
"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 noted.
"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," the statement further read.
In an analogous situation in 2022, Kenya was suspended by FIFA. Kenya was issued with several demands before the ban could be lifted.
The global governing body directed the government to overturn the decision to install a caretaker committee to run football activities in the country.
“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 by FIFA in part.
