This archive report was first published on 26 October 2021.
Kenya's Football in Crisis ¶
Kenya's football is in a state of crisis, with influential voices calling for the dissolution of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The calls come after the Harambee Stars, Kenya's national team, crashed out of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Joseph Mboya, a blogger and influential voice in Kenya, recently published an article in The Daily Nation, the country's most influential newspaper, calling for the dissolution of the FKF. Mboya's article was a passionate appeal to the Sports Minister, Amina Mohamed, to disband the FKF and pave the way for fresh elections.
"This is an urgent appeal to Sports Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, please disband Football Kenya Federation right now," Mboya wrote. "I am sure I am speaking on behalf of millions of football lovers in the country, who have realised that FKF president Nick Mwendwa, is all hat and no cattle."
Mboya's message resonated with many Kenyans, who are disillusioned with the direction of their football. The country's football fans are frustrated with the FKF's leadership, which they see as ineffective and corrupt.
While some Kenyans are calling for a FIFA ban as a way to resolve the crisis, others are concerned that this may not be the best solution. The wounds inflicted by the Sports Commission's intervention in domestic cricket, which led to the country being thrown out of major international competitions, are still yet to heal.
However, for those who believe that a FIFA ban is necessary to bring about change, Mboya's article is a rallying cry. "Maybe, critical thinking is an alien concept to Mwendwa and his clique at Kandanda House but if he had it, he could have realised that such kind of reckless talk ends up harming players' self-confidence, not forgetting the corporates who would have loved to partner with local clubs," Mboya wrote.
