'Kenya faces imminent FIFA ban, loss of AFCON hosting over FKF debacle'

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‘Kenya faces imminent FIFA ban, loss of AFCON hosting over FKF debacle’ – Aaron Cheruiyot warns

Wednesday, July 31, 2024
11:06 am

Mustafa Juma Kenya

Kericho County Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has expressed his concerns on another imminent FIFA ban that Kenya is facing.

Cheruiyot through his official X account on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, said the involvement of courts in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) debacle will lead to another FIFA ban.

Cheruiyot on AFCON hosting

According to Cheruiyot, the involvement of courts in FKF disputed election process will also cause Kenya to lose the privilege of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He questioned why the court issued Ex Parte orders and set the next hearing date to October, 2024.

“On this FKF debacle, our courts will safely chaperone us into a FIFA ban, complete with all the attendant consequences, including loss of AFCON hosting. On such a technical issue as the disputed election process, why would a judge issue Ex Parte orders and set the next hearing date to October?” Cheruiyot questioned.

CJ Koome intervention

He went ahead to state that the orders issued by the courts have consequences to the country, urging the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome to intervene.

“Does she understand the consequences of her orders? As a fan of local football, this doesn’t sit well with me. JSC and CJ Martha Koome must guard the judiciary against such blatant abuse of privilege,” Cheruiyot said.

On this FKF debacle, our courts will safely chaperone us into a FIFA ban, complete with all the attendant consequences, including loss of AFCON hosting.
On such a technical issue as the disputed election process, why would a judge issue Ex Parte orders and set the next hearing…
— Aaron Cheruiyot (@Aaroncheruiyot) July 31, 2024

Cheruiyot’s statement follows a court order issued on July 30, 2024, barring the eagerly awaited FKF elections.

Court order against FKF

The High Court served the federation with fresh orders, barring them from holding the AGM or overseeing elections pending the hearing of a case.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa had earlier on given stakeholders the green light to the elections, during the FKF gala awards, after scheduling the special AGM for September to approve the electoral board and pave the way for the polls in November/December 2024.

The previous special AGM was halted through another court order from the Mombasa High Court on March 15, 2024, by coast region NEC member Gabriel Mghendi.

Sports journalist Milton Nyakundi also filed a petition, arguing that the NEC could not convene an AGM until the ruling was done. The case was later withdrawn.

Nyakundi went to court again and was granted orders barring the elections on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.