Nick Mwendwa Arrested Again

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa.
File

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President, Nick Mwendwa, has been arrested again.

Mwendwa was arrested on Friday, November 26, mid-morning in Ridgeways, Nairobi by detectives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Sources privy to the arrest told Kenyans.co.ke that Mwendwa was taken to the DCI Headquarters on Kiambu Road for grilling.

Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters along Kiambu Road
Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters along Kiambu Road
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

By the time of going to press, the details on why he was arrested had not been made public. However, the source intimated that it was in relation to the ongoing probe on misuse of taxpayers money and abuse of office at the FKF.

His arrest comes just a day after the state withdrew the case against him, with the court ordering that a cash bail of Ksh4 million he had paid be refunded immediately.

The Prosecution had been granted seven days to prefer charges against the embattled FKF boss

"We seek to close the file as we proceed with investigations at our own pace before we prefer charges against him," the prosecution stated. 

Senior Resident Magistrate, Wandia Nyamu, accepted the request and ordered the case closed and concluded. 

"I, therefore, order this matter closed as prayed by the DPP, " Wandia Nyamu ruled. 

Mwendwa was, however, still barred from accessing FKF offices or attending any football-related activities after a caretaker committee was appointed to head the federation offices. 

His case attracted the attention of FIFA which demanded Mwendwa be reinstated lest Kenya faces a ban and other consequences. In a letter addressed to Sports Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, on Sunday, November 14, FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, cautioned the ministry against ignoring FIFA's demands. 

"Going forward, without prejudice to the allegations that have been raised and any potential trial for offences that may have been committed, FIFA and CAF are asking you to consider the reinstatement of the FKF Executive Committee prior thereto," the letter read in part.

FIFA's demands necessitated a meeting between Amina and the world governing football body to mediate on the standoff. 

Sports CS Amina Mohammed speaking during the commissioning of the Safari Rally Kenya Service Park at KWS Training Institute in Naivasha on November 26, 2020
Sports CS Amina Mohammed speaking during the commissioning of the Safari Rally Kenya Service Park at KWS Training Institute in Naivasha on November 26, 2020
File
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