Did PS Okudo lie? Now FIFA claim they had no talks with Kenya government about FKF
World football governing body Fifa yesterday poured cold water on claims by Sport Principal Secretary (PS) Joe Okudo that the ministry had the backing of the global body as the State conducts an audit on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over Sh 244 million for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Okudo who appeared before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, said the DCI was also probing Sh57 million in allowances and bonuses to Harambee Stars players and technical bench who travelled for Afcon camps in various countries that were not supported by approved rates.
“We have also engaged and secured the backing of Fifa in our investigations.
Federations have been hiding behind the threat of a ban for government inteference in sports federations,” he said.
However, yesterday, a visiting team from Fifa comprising of Solomon Mudege, Sarah Mukuna and Abigail Hailemichael told People Sport that the global body had not talked to the Kenyan government on anything about FKF.
“We have checked with the head office in Zurich and I can assure you that Fifa has not engaged the Kenyan government on any issue,” said Mudege.
He said Fifay had probed claims that players and technical bench officials had not been paid their dues and found no formal complaints.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa told People Sport that Okudo had lied to the parliamentary committee and said that he read malice in the entire issue.
“Okudo is a liar and is definitely looking for a political clout at the expense of our football,” Mwendwa told People Sport.
He added: “Fifa are here and you have heard for yourselves. They have not engaged the Sports Ministry on anything as the PS told the parliamentary committee, so what does that explain ?”
Okudo had said: “I think for me, this is a golden opportunity to resolve these problems within the federation, once and for all; this is the time when we can really rein in on these rogue institutions, its not going to be an easy fight but it will be a golden opportunity to ressolve this problem.”
