Colorful pictures of Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba hobnobbing with FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino are awash on social media.Namwamba is depicted having a good time with the football governing boss at a dinner table as opposed to a board room where official functions are held. This ought to elicit questions on the formality of this meeting.Besides the pictures of Namwamba totting champagne in Qatar, the Ministry of Sports is yet to issue any substantive communique following this highly publicized encounter.Could these two entities (Government of Kenya and FIFA) still be deadlocked over a matter not fit for public ears?A confidential informant disclosed to Mozzart Sport that former Sports CS Amina Mohamed presented a missive to FIFA expressing the government’s strong preference of a Normalization Committee to guide Kenya’s journey back to officiality. Citing a damning Auditor General’s report Amina cast aspersions on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee (NEC) over integrity queries.The government’s communique to FIFA as well as Nick Mwendwa’s letter of resumption to office that remains in limbo point to undercurrents in the pursuit for legitimacy in running football in Kenya.CS @AbabuNamwamba today met @FIFAcom President Gianni Infantino, General Secretary Fatma Samoura and @CAF_Online President Patrice Motsepe in Qatar. They discussed various issues relating to football and Kenya’s suspension from international football.#AbabuNaKazi pic.twitter.com/RR2lj9Zequ— Ministry Of Youth Affairs, Sports & The Arts (@moscakenya) November 24, 2022 As evidenced by finely cut suits, neatly trimmed hair and timely social media posts, Ababu Namwamba is a master in public relations who could be feeding Kenyans hope in a worrying storm.Has FIFA responded to Mwendwa’s letter of resumption to office?If positively so, why would the government keep Mwendwa at bay over integrity questions when the cabinet is brimming with economic crimes suspects, murder and rape suspects and other scoundrels unfit for public service?Surely there’s more than meets the eye. Mwendwa is innocent until proven guilty, that is if there’s case against him. There might be questions over audit reports, but, so are a number of men and women sitting around Kenya’s highest table – Cabinet.It’s time Namwamba issued a substantive report on this football quagmire.FIFA would by now have wholly lifted Kenya’s suspension had there not been an axe to grind with Kenya government. It’s weeks since Mwendwa -less NEC and secretariat were reinstated and Kandanda House reopened, the conditions FIFA set for lifting of suspension.Which begs the question: What is the hold-up for?
