This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
FIFA, the world football governing body, has issued a strongly worded letter to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) CEO Barry Otieno, warning of potential sanctions, including a possible suspension, if the FKF contravenes FIFA's statutes.
The dispute centers around the impending FKF national elections, which two separate groups have filed cases against at the High Court and Sports Disputes Tribunal, seeking to stop the elections scheduled to start next month.
According to FIFA statutes, disputes in football cannot be taken to any judicial body outside the Federation, and if this happens, it is deemed as third-party interference.
"The prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts of law, unless specifically foreseen by FIFA regulations or binding legal provisions," is one of FIFA's core principles, as stated in the letter signed by Veron Mosengo-Omba, the acting Chief Member Associations officer.
FKF boss Nick Mwendwa has confirmed receiving the letter but says they will wait on the verdict from the courts to determine the way forward.
The case at the High Court is due for mention on November 20, while that at the Sports Disputes Tribunal is due on November 5.
"If the courts rule that the elections should be stopped, then that is a FIFA ban coming and we will not travel to Egypt to play our first 2021 AFCON qualifier," Mwendwa told Capital Sport.
