Apprehension reigns in Kenyan football with the impending expiry of the government-appointed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Caretaker Committee’s tenure.

The committee was formed on November 17, last year by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed after she dissolved the Nick Mwendwa-led FKF over claims of financial embezzlement. 

Chaired by retired Appellate judge Aaron Ringera, the committee was tasked with conducting all football affairs in accordance to its constitution besides ensuring that FKF complies with the Sports Act 2013. 

Other mandates of the committee were ensuring smooth running of FKF operations; coordinating new FKF elections and handing over the newly elected officials to the sports ministry. 

Financial misconduct

The six-month term of office of the committee comes to end on Wednesday which implies that any other football activity after that has no handlers. 

Amina dissolved the embattled federation after it was accused of gross financial misconduct, and instead the committee was formed to discharge the federation’s duties. 

But just what are the achievements of the committee that was enacted to end the ‘madness’; that had infiltrated the sport? 

In the etes of many, the Ringera led committee which was embraced by the majority of stakeholders scores poorly if the current situation of football is any guide. 

Most of the betting companies which acilitated the league, most notably SportPesa, had already pulled out which gave clubs hopes that they will get sustenance from the government and especially when Fifa suspended Kenya over the government’s interference in the sport. 

Initially, the agreement by the committee with clubs was that they will be getting a monthly stipend of Sh800,000 courtesy of the sports ministry. 

It would later be strangely whittled down to Sh300,000 a month with the last allotment having been received last January as teams go round with begging bowls and can barely sustain themselves. 

So serious is the situation that Mathare United who are gracing the lower reaches of the league are on the verge of being kicked out of the league after missing three consecutive matches due to lack of funds. 

Under the previous regime, it was almost unheard of for a team in the top tier to award a walkover in the league due to lack of funds. 

Again, the Premier League clubs are groping in the dark due to poor communication as to where their fixtures have been programmed by the committee due to lack of an official website where such crucial information can be disseminated. 

Match reports

This is unlike the dissolved federation which posted fixtures and match reports in real time. 

Many are the times when the committee postpones matches at the eleventh hour thus inconveniencing both the home and away teams who incur unnecessary expenditures while preparing for these matches 

 Amina, who has turned down Fifa demands to reinstate Mwendwa, said her decision to disband the federation will stay even after a virtual meeting with Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura. 

The reign of the 41-year-old Mwendwa, who has been FKF president since 2016, has been dogged by controversy and claims of impropriety.