Free to Go: Nick Mwendwa’s Case Dropped After Dramatic Investigation

Embattled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa can heave a sigh of relief after the state dropped the case against him on Thursday, November 25. The prosecu’tion did not file any charges after investigations into the federation boss were undertaken by the Directorate of Crimin’al Investigations (DCI).

His cash bail of Ksh4 million is to be refunded. Mwendwa was apprehended in dramatic fashion on November 12 while paying a visit to Harambee Stars players who were in camp only to be taken to DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road for questioning.

He was arraigned in an Anti-Corru’ption court in Nairobi on November 15 and granted Ksh7 million bond or a cash bail of Ksh4 million. The state was given seven days to bring charges against him, after Police earlier sought orders to detain the FKF boss for 14 days to complete investigations.

He was represented by a high-powered legal team that included John Khaminwa, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi.

Mwendwa was accused of siphoning millions of shillings from FKF accounts to private accounts, with part of the funds having been sourced from the Sports Ministry. He denied any wrongdoing and warned that world football governing body FIFA could ban Kenya for government interference.

The Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed-led Ministry of Sports appointed a caretaker committee to manage affairs of Kenyan football for six months, effectively replacing the FKF after an inspection report by the Sports Registrar highlighted discrepancies at Kandanda House. FIFA in a letter to the government called for compliance with FIFA statutes as they also warned of possible action against Kenya.

READ>>Nick Mwendwa Gets His Day in Court

Amina is reportedly scheduled to meet FIFA officials this week, the latest in a series of boardroom talks meant to find a solution to the problems facing Kenyan football.

Meanwhile, Kenyan football hangs in the balance. The caretaker committee led by Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera announced that league football would resume on December 4 and not November 27 as they had earlier promised.

They also stated that they did not intend to revert management of the league to Kenya Premier League (KPL) Limited this season as was widely speculated.

FKF, on the other hand, has been undertaking a coordinated counter strategy reaching out to the public as well as CAF and FIFA to plead their case.

FKF CEO Barry Otieno, in a move that sparked anger among fans of Gor Mahia FC, wrote to CAF claiming that they were unable to organize Gor’s clash with Congolese club Otoho D’oyo in the CAF Confederations Cup due to intimidation from the caretaker committee.

FKF branch officials and representatives have also penned opinion pieces cautioning of the implications of a FIFA ban for Kenyan football.

READ>>The Return of KPL Limited? Hints as Gor, AFC Back Govt