FKF, KPL flex muscles as uncertainty over league thickens

The atmosphere at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) offices in Nairobi on Wednesday afternoon carried an agonizing sense of despair as the stalemate surrounding the country’s top division rolled on.

It had been meant to be a day that would see the tribunal make a last ditch attempt to get Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Kenyan Premier League find a middle ground over the latest in a series of tussles between the two.

A day after the KPL had included Muhoroni Youth and Sofapaka FC in the division’s 2017 fixtures in blatant defiance to FKF’s earlier decision to relegate the two, Mwendwa fired back by suspending the league indefinitely.

Ultimately, KPL failed to honour the Joint Executive Committee (JEC) meeting with Chairman James Musyoki reportedly falling ill.

“Of course the rest would have come but we understand. I had a chat with Musyoki and it’s true he wasn’t feeling well,” Mwendwa told Citizen Digital.

The furor stirred by KPL’s defiance remained evident in his face yet the strain in his voice betrayed a burnout slowly kicking in.

Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier had earlier accused him of taking a hard line stance over the KPL impasse but Mwendwa maintained he only sought to uphold the ruling of the tribunal as sworn before.

Rachier’s statements came in response to Mwendwa’s decision to open proceedings against Munro, Rachier, KPL CEO Jack Oguda and founder Bob Munro after accusing them of scuttling the agreement to expand the league to 18 teams.

“The rules are clear and the tribunal made it clear we will have an expanded league this season. Their decision to include Muhoroni and Sofapaka remains the most appalling because you wonder why they would want to continue with unlicensed clubs.

“The cases of the two are beyond the SDT and a reversal can only be possible upon the intervention of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or FIFA,” Mwendwa underscored.

For the second time in as many days, Mwendwa accused the KPL for refusing to embrace transparency as he faulted them for sidelining Nzoia United and Kariobangi Sharks – both which were promoted to the top-tier on merit.

“KPL chairmen have held meetings but not even once have Sharks or Nzoia been invited to them. It betrays their intentions and I keep insisting I have no interest at all in taking over the management of the league.”

Meanwhile, the JEC meeting has been postponed to Friday with Mwendwa asserting the league can, at its earliest, kick off on February 18.