Journalist calls for FKF probe over alleged financial impropriety

A sports journalist has now reached out to the Registrar of Sports seeking to have an audit conducted at the Football Kenya Federation over what he termed as widespread financial impropriety and questionable conduct by officials of the federation.



Veteran journalist Milton Nyakundi in a letter to Ms Rose Wasike on Thursday called upon the body to institute speedy investigations into the football body to help restore public confidence which he noted was waning drastically.



Among the issues Nyakundi wants probed include the expenditure of funds allocated to the federation between the years 2016 and 2020 with specifics into how Ksh 244 million meant to facilitate Harambee Stars participation in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 in Egypt was spent as well as other funds that the federation has been granted before for similar purposes.



“Financial probity and proper appropriation of resources and monies disbursed to the FKF by the government of Kenya through the Sports Fund and/or the Ministry of Sports between June 2016 and February 2020; and whether the monies received in the aforementioned period have been accounted for, as provided for by the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and all other applicable Laws and/or Regulations governing expenditure and accountability of public resources.



The Inspection should focus on expenditure of KSh244 million given to the FKF for Kenya’s participation in the 2019 edition of the Confederation of African Football- organized Africa Cup of Nations as well as all monies received as facilitation for all National Teams under the management and care of the federation, namely, Harambee Stars, Harambee Starlets, National Under-23 (men and women) and National Under-17 (boys and girls),” read part of the letter.



Nyakundi also petitioned the registrar to ivestigate alleged perjury and manipulation of crucial documents and communication between the federation and government as well as other football entities.



“Possible perjury and manipulation of communications and documents including details of financial transactions and correspondence with the Government,Confederation of African Football (CAF), Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), clubs and other members of the FKF, including but not limited to, Kenyan Premier League, National Super League, Division One and Women Premier League teams as well as bodies affiliated such as the associations for referees, coaches and players; among others. This is important because there is a general feeling by the stakeholders and based on my job designation to believe that there has been a record of correspondence of the federation that sought to undermine the authority of the Kenyan Constitution and other laws borne of the Kenya’s Supreme Law and institutions established by Statute plus the Regulations therefrom,” he stated.



The request by the journalist comes hot on the heels of investigations into the federation arising from a litany of alleged missapropriation of funds among them Afcon bonusses that are yet to be paid out to Harambee Stars players, and the acquisition of an OB van that has been dogged by controversy since 2016.