Mwendwa signals new dates for Kenya’s new football season commencement

Mwendwa’s message comes after he Friday confirmed his return after he was arrested in Nairobi last November.

Via his Twitter handle, the Kariobangi Sharks owner alerted football stakeholders and players to start preparing for the start of the new football season in the country under his reign after 10 months absence. He said action will resume in October 2022 or slightly beyond.

“FIFA, CAF, Harambee Stars, Harambee Starlets, the Premier League, all leagues, grassroots football, coaches, referees and all officials. Get ready for the  pre-season. Here is the deal. From tomorrow train hard, in one month or so the  season will be back,” Mwendwa said.

Mwendwa, who had stepped down after being charged in court with corruption and embezzlement of public funds, has further promised to ensure the lift of the suspension of Kenya from international football as soon as possible.

In a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino dated September 8, Mwendwa called for a National Executive Committee meeting in the Kenyan capital on Friday.

“Following the withdrawal of charges by the Directorate of Public Prosecution on July 8, I hereby wish to inform your good office that I have resumed my duties as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president, with immediate effect, in accordance with Article 42 of the FKF constitution (2017),” Mwendwa said in the letter.

“The federation has made significant progress towards complying with the FIFA directive of February 24, with a meeting scheduled in the coming days with the newly elected Kenyan government, to actualize the lifting of the FIFA suspension and Kenya’s return to international football,” he added.

Mwendwa’s resumption of duties is set to spark a fresh wrangle in the management of Kenyan football with the FKF Transition Committee, which was formed to take over his roles still in office until September 16.

Outgoing Cabinet Secretary for Sport Amina Mohamed expelled Mwendwa and his national executive in mid-October 2021 and directed the Registrar of Sports to undertake an inspection of the federation.

She further formed a 15-member caretaker team, headed by retired judge Aaron Ringera to take charge of operations at the federation for six months as the investigations continued.

Following the decision, FIFA barred Kenya from participating in regional and international competitions in February over what they termed as government interference in football activities.

The High Court then threw out a case lodged by Mwendwa in March.

FIFA has not recognized the Caretaker Committee that was transformed into the Transition Committee once the initial six months of its tenure expired in April.

The new Kenyan government formally assumes power on September 13 and it is expected one of the first tasks of the new Cabinet Secretary for Sport is to resolve the football crisis.