Taking into consideration that I am personally being targeted in all this, my decision, has been arrived at with the federation’s best interest at heart
Beleaguered Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa has dramatically and temporarily "quit" his post as head of the game’s governing body in Kenya.
Mwendwa, in a letter dated 29 November 2021 and addressed to the FKF National Executive Committee (which was disbanded by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed on Thursday 11 November 2021 ) touched on the FKF’s recent disbandment as well as his recent arrests and spells in police custody, saying, “ In light of the foregoing, specifically, the frequent arrests and detentions, which have adversely affected my family and personal business and whilst I am confident I will be cleared of any wrong doing in the end, I have today in accordance with Article 42(8) of the FKF constitution (2017) asked my Vice President Madam Doris Petra to assume all functions of the FKF president. Taking into consideration that I am personally being targeted in all this, my decision, has been arrived at with the federation’s best interest at heart.”
The 42-year-old was charged with four counts of fraud in a Nairobi court on Tuesday 30 November 2021 and released on a Ksh 15 million bond or a Ksh 10 million cash bail ahead of his pre-trial hearing on Monday 20 December 2021.
Mwendwa spent the past weekend in custody following his re-arrest on Friday 26 November 2021.
He appeared in court on Monday 29 November 2021 charged with four counts of fraudulent acquisition of public property amounting to Ksh 37.7M between March and May 2021.
Mwendwa and his legal team had initially declined to take a plea to the charges, asserting his rights have been violated by the police and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) before entering a not guilty plea on Tuesday.
He was first arrested on Friday 12 November before being released on bond on Monday 15 November 2021.
His administration has been under increased scrutiny over its management style, particularly financial and governance issues that came to a head on Thursday 11 November 2021 when Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Sports - Amina Mohamed, upon receiving the report of a Government sponsored probe on the organization, disbanded the FKF, replacing it with a Caretaker Committee under the leadership of retired judge Aaron Ringera.