Journalist wants FKF president Mwendwa arrested, lower league results nullified
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 16.06.21. | 14:14
Ngira says government has not given express authority for resumption of lower tier leagues.
A celebrated Kenyan sports journalist has gone to court seeking the arrest of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa and chief executive officer Barry Otieno for blatant flouting of Covid-19 regulations.
Francis Ngira Okelo who has a long running spat with Mwendwa also wants lower tier football competitions stopped forthwith and results collated so far declared null and void.
#Thread: Here’s a draft of history;
— Francis Ngira (@francisngira) June 16, 2021
As a follow-up to my article dated June 11 (???? on my Facebook blog https://t.co/qsRP1samlC ) an exposé on the blatant violation of COVID-19 Rules governing the resumption of contact sports in Kenya... Cont pic.twitter.com/rKoB0MtQg9
Filed under a certificate of urgency at the John Ohaga led Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) the journalist is seeking five orders as follows:
Firstly, Ngira wants the SDT to declare that the resumption of lower tier leagues is illegal and in violation of COVID-19 Rules. This is due to the fact that the Ministries of Sports and Health have not given express authority, only letting top-flight league to resume under strict regulations.
“The first respondent in, unlawfully or illegally and negligently, running all its lower tier leagues and or cup competitions in contravention of the various existing executive orders, directives, guidelines, policies or legislation that touch on public health and social behavioral status relating to Covid-19 pandemic and any other relevant law as set out by the respondents and FIFA without regard to the health of all those involved and the general public.” Ngira states
FIFA considers health as something of paramount importance, and footballing activities as secondary to health, that is what should underpin any decisions made concerning resuming the game of soccer – but here, the air of recklessness hangs precariously.https://t.co/C6iL6ohsIl
— Francis Ngira (@francisngira) June 11, 2021
He then wants all results of lower tier matches hitherto played in contravention of Covid-19 rules declared null and void.
In case that has also listed the Attorney General and Cabinet Secretaries in charge of Ministries of Health and Sports as second, third and fourth respondents, Ngira further wants the court to restrain FKF from proceeding with lower-tier football until otherwise authorized by the government.
To stick the boot in the journalist is seeking an injunction restraining the government from authorizing commencement of the lower tier league until medical experts declare the situation safe.
Lastly, Ngira is seeking an order for the arrest of the Federation president Nicholas Kithuku Mwendwa and the CEO Barry Otieno for contravening Covid-19 rules set out by the government.
Federation’s corporate sponsors are also listed in the case as interested parties.
.jpg)
