This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
July 18, 2019
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is facing a storm after its Secretary-General Robert Muthomi was accused of trying to sell a Sofapaka and Harambee Stars striker behind the club's back.
John Avire, the striker in question, had been seeking a visa to watch the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, but Sofapaka was left fuming after discovering that the visa application was signed by Muthomi and addressed to the Egyptian Embassy.
The letter, which was meant to facilitate Avire's travel to Egypt, has been seen as a ploy by Muthomi to facilitate the transfer of the player to an unnamed Egyptian side.
FKF President Nick Mwendwa has promised to investigate the matter, saying that the federation will not issue a transfer certificate to anyone without the consent of the player's club.
“Sofapaka wrote to me and claiming Muthomi had a hand in the transfer of their player. We are investigating with a view of taking the matter to respective disciplinary bodies of the federation,” Mwendwa said.
On the other hand, Muthomi has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he only advised Avire to write a protest letter to Sofapaka after the player claimed that the club had not paid him for three months.
“When we were in Egypt, Avire approached me claiming he had not been paid for three months. I told him to write to the club and copy the federation,” Muthomi said.
