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Former Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech has called on President William Ruto to intervene and save the Football Kenya Federation from the current crisis. 

The FA has found itself in another fight following the postponement of its annual general meeting that was to take place last Saturday, March 16, 2024. 

The last-minute postponement came after a court injunction, as some stakeholders challenged the current FKF’s legality to hold the said meeting. 

To Oliech, the next FKF election plans are in limbo given the current state of affairs, and this might need an intervention from the Head of State.

“With the cancellation of the AGM, the elections that had been slated for between September and October this year are in limbo.

“If the court case drags on, a constitutional crisis beckons, as all the FKF branch chairmen and National Executive Committee members will vacate office by October 17, leaving only the FKF president and his secretariat to run football affairs in the country without any checks and balances.

“How is that possible? There will be nobody to approve FKF budgets and operations, including those of the African Nations Championship (Chan) 2024 and the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2027. There will be no county leagues,” Oliech told a local publication. 

Oliech indicts Sports Ministry

The former AS Monaco star also said the Ministry of Sports is part of the mess that is facing the federation. 

“Mr President, I am afraid the Sports Ministry is not absolved of blame here. It has entertained and abated some of the challenges highlighted and treated these FKF officials with kid gloves as footballers suffer.

“Lest we forget the current administration at FKF is facing a court contempt ruling as a result of defying court orders with regards to their occupation of FKF offices,” he added. 

The former Gor Mahia striker argued that the current situation will make the livelihoods of those who depend on soccer even worse. 

“Because of the current situation, the lives and livelihoods of many hustlers who depend on football for a living are at risk. 

“All these actions are against the bottom-up economic model of your administration. Football can be a great employer for many hustlers, both directly and indirectly,” he continued.

Without transparency at Kandanda House, Oliech says, it will be difficult for the country to host even international events.

“The lack of transparency, accountability, and integrity cannot provide a sustainable environment for hosting an international football event, let alone a successful local league. Look at how our leagues are struggling. In my time, we did not have much, but we were better off. 

“My experience as an international footballer informs me that if nothing is done now to change the situation, we will have no football in Kenya in the near future,” he concluded. 

Oliech is one of those who have declared interest in running for the FKF presidency in the next poll.