Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has cracked the whip on five Premier League match officials suspected to be involved in the manipulation of games in the top flight by provisionally suspending them from duty.In an official statement signed by FKF CEO Barry Otieno, the five whose suspensions take effect immediately include; Samuel Mwaura, Isaac Memusi, Collins Opiyo, Japheth Juma and FIFA Referee, Raymond Onyango.”Football Kenya Federation, as a precautionary measure and in the interest of safeguarding the integrity of its Leagues and competitions, has provisionally suspended five FKF-PL match officials suspected to be involved in match manipulation,” read the statement.”The five, whose suspensions take effect immediately include; Samuel Mwaura, Isaac Memusi, Collins Opiyo, Japheth Juma and FIFA Referee, Raymond Onyango. Moreover, the federation’s Integrity Department, with the assistance of FIFA, has initiated preliminary investigations against the said individuals, with a view of establishing their involvement, if any, in the said match manipulation practices,”BREAKINGAfter prolonged outcry over officiating in the FKF Premier League, FKF has cracked the whip, suspending five referees.Among them is FIFA referee, Raymond Onyango. The five will further be probed to establish if they are involved in March-manipulation.#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/2Dia2iD0T2— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) July 30, 2021 ”Even so, the federation remains confident on the integrity of the FKF-PL and has with the assistance of FIFA established and consistently continues to up-date, its match manipulation detection platform, with a view of protecting and safeguarding the integrity of all its competitions, against global match-fixers,” the statement concluded.In the last month or so, there have been growing concerns from various team coaches about the blatant favouritism and officiating decisions being made on the field of play.Ulinzi Stars head coach Benjamin Nyangweso cried foul in his team’s 2-1 loss at KCB where he claimed the referee assisted as he awarded two contentious spot kicks to the Bankers’ who kept their title-winning chances alive.”If that’s the level of officiating we will be subjected to, we better not play. It is demoralizing to prepare a team for days only for the officials to work against you. He gave out two non-existent penalties yet there were no fouls committed. When we lose fairly, I always concede defeat but this one, his calls were biased, ” the head coach protested.Back on the 30th of June, AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems bemoaned the refereeing calls as Kariobangi Sharks beat Ingwe 1-0.”To be honest this game alongside that of Wazito were part of our preparations for our final against Gor. Today we lost because of a penalty which was not penalty. It happens in football as referees as error is to human,” the former Simba head coach.With increasing cases of officiating, FKF seems to have moved in quick to sort the mess that was slowly creeping its way back into the local league and contaminate the purity of the sport.
