The Kenyan football politics is a clear proof that the more things change, they more they remain the same.
The East African nation could have a parallel league, just as it was the case about 16 years ago.
The state of Kenyan football has been thrown in doubt following a landmark ruling by the Sports Dispute Tribunal that called off the forthcoming Football Kenya Federation (FKF) national elections that were set for next weekend.
This means that Kenya could face Fifa sanction for failure to hold the elections within the stipulated time following the expiry of the term in office of the Nick Mwendwa administration on February 10.
The SDT chairman, John Ohaga, on Tuesday threw away a petition by FKF that wanted the Tribunal to force the Sports Registrar to allow the polls to go on despite questions of non compliance with the Sports Act.
Even though the tribunal ruled that the federation has complied with the Sports Act, it was, however, a big blow for Mwendwa, who found himself a lone ranger after the local sports dispute tribunal kicked out of office all the National Executive Committee Members, that also include the Vice-President Doris Petra and the federation’s Secretary General/CEO, Barry Otieno who is an ex-officio member. The SDT rule that the NEC term i office has already expired.
Only Mwendwa survived Ohaga’s wrath and he will remain in office until a new office is constituted.
In ruling delivered via a video link after the Kenyan judiciary scaled down court activities due the ongoing Coronavirus fear, Ohaga wants FIFA to form a normalisation committee to steer the electoral process after FKF were found in violation of the eligibility rule.
This ruling now paves way for a battle between former FKF boss Sam Nyamweya whose camp has threatened to form a parallel federation even as it becomes clear that the Mwendwa faction could face serious sanction from the international mother body.
Already Kenya is on FIFA’s radar after the federation failed to comply with the directive that they pay former Harambee Stars head coach Adel Amrouche and Bobby Williamson damages running into Sh108 million for wrongful dismissal.
This is the second time FKF has received a shocking defeat in the corridors of justice.
The same court postponed the first polls that were to be done last December, leading to a 90-day grace period to held fresh elections, only for FKF to rush to court seeking to have the court subject Sports Registrar to allow ye process to go on.