New CS Namwamba begins talks with FIFA over Kenya ban

The new Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Ababu Namwamba said he spoke with FIFA officials on Friday when he formally assumed office.

Namwamba said in a social media post that the phone conversation was the start of the process of resolving the impasse that led to Kenya’s ban by the global governing body.

FIFA imposed the ban on Football Kenya Federation in February due to government interference, meaning no Kenyan team, including club sides, can compete internationally.

“The Government is committed to returning Kenyan football to normalcy in sync with the rule of law and public good,” Namwamba wrote on Twitter.

The Sports Ministry, then under the leadership of Amb. Amina Mohamed, disbanded the FKF in November after an investigation into its accounts revealed alleged financial irregularities.

She then appointed a caretaker committee to run the affairs of Kenyan football with FKF officials quickly barred from accessing their offices at Kandanda House.

FIFA, which does not allow governments to interfere in football affairs, said it would not recognise the committee and urged Amina to reinstate FKF or face sanctions.

Amina refused to oblige and Kenya was withdrawn from the Women's Nations Cup qualifying matches before an international ban was later announced by the FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The ban has seen Kenya missed three continental events for national teams among them the men's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with club sides also omitted from the CAF Confederation and Champions League games.

All domestic club leagues, that were due to start late August, have also yet to kick off after teams vowed to boycott competitions organized by the committee formed by Amina over financial and management issues.