A total of 18 officials of Mwatate United want the recent merger between itself and Dimba Patriots be nullified claiming it is riddled with irregularity.The officials led by current chairman Suleiman Mwabindo have filed a case at the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) through lawyer Ken Ochieng and the matter has been scheduled for hearing for 18 January 2024.##NAJAVA_MECA_7722645##They have sued Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Head of Competitions Committee Doreen Nabwire, former Mwatate United chairman James Okoyo Mbaraka, current Dimba Patriots chairman Dick Arudo and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Naftali Aseia.According to documents filed at the SDT, the 18 officials accuse the FKF Head of competitions of approving the sale of Mwatate United in contravention of rules governing Kenyan football and the club’s constitution.Further, they accuse the club’s former chairman for selling off the club or merging it with Dimba Patriots without their consent and without public participation.Twists and turns in Mwatate United, Dimba Patriots merger dealQuoting article 39 of rules and regulations governing Kenyan football, they say no team is allowed to sell its slot in a league and relocate its home base unless such a move is sanctioned by the FKF executive committee on the recommendations of the league’s committee and the respective branch.“Under Rule 8.1.7, in the event a club is being sold and relocating, it will be relegated to its current county or FKF Branch League,” they say in filed papers.In their prayers to the SDT, the officials want the merger or takeover to be nullified and officials of Dimba Patriots be stopped from taking over at Mwatate United.Webo, Odire case over unfair dismissal to be heard in January – SDTThey also want the officials from accessing and registering players on behalf of Dimba Patriots in the Mwatate United portal.They also want a refund of Sh.100,000 they paid to appeal against the sale and the appeal is yet to be heard by the FKF.
