Amina has the last laugh

Ousted Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials yesterday received another major blow in their quest to return to office after the High Court dismissed its petition on whether the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed acted in accordance with the law in disbanding the local football body last November. 

Lady Justice Hedwig Ong’undi delivered the ruling, throwing away ousted officials’ hopes of returning to football management and indicating that the standoff between the government and world football governing body Fifa would persist, since Fifa while suspending Kenya in February cited government interference and demanded that the federation be reinstated for the sanctions to be lifted.

FKF had submitted an application at the High Court challenging the legitimacy of the Caretaker Committee that was formed by the CS on November 12 last year immediately after they had been kicked out of office.

Through its lawyers Eric Mutua, Silvia Matasi, Victor Omwebu and Charles Njenga, FKF said in the petition that it was not given time to be heard following a special audit at its offices ordered by the Sports Registrar Rose Wasike. 

The lawyers also challenged the legality of the inspection based on the time taken and the number officers accorded the task by the Registrar. 

Also in the petition was a complaint that FKF was not served with the findings recommendations of the audit as stipulated by the Sports Act of Kenya.

Justice Ong’undi dismissed the application for lack of merit, ruling that FKF was subject to the Constitution of Kenya, the Sports Act and all laws of Kenya. Further, she said the CS acted within her mandate in appointing the FKF Caretaker Committee.

Ong’undi also stated that the petitioners were accorded an opportunity to be heard and the inspection at FKF was conducted in accordance with the law and directed the Sports Registrar to serve the petitioners with the inspection report within 14 days.

“The Cabinet Secretary acted within her mandate under the Sports Act to appoint a Caretaker Committee. 

The petitioners were accorded an opportunity to be heard and the Inspection Report was carried out in accordance with the law, Ong’udi ruled.