FIFA lifts ban off Kenyan national football federation
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The national team in Kenya has been suspended since February.
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Kenya's National Football Team.
FIFA has lifted its ban on Kenya's national football federation following Nairobi's decision to reinstate the body after dispersing it over corruption allegations, according to the country's sports minister on Monday.
In February, FIFA suspended the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for governmental interference after the authorities shut down the body last year due to graft allegations.
This month, Ababu Namwamba, the Kenyan sports minister, announced the reinstatement of the federation while also warning its former chief - who is facing charges of corruption - against returning to the federation unless corruption charges are cleared.
Namwamba told reporters in Nairobi that he met with FIFA officials in Qatar to review FIFA's suspension, announcing that he "would like to express my delight for Kenya to return back to international football" on Monday.
"I am happy that FIFA has made it clear that certain issues of integrity, accountability, and good governance in football will be sorted out and investigations into judicial matters remain alive," he added.
A FIFA letter said it had "decided on 25 November 2022 to lift the suspension of the FKF with immediate effect."
In November, the federation was disbanded after a probe revealed that the FKF had failed to account for governmental and sponsor funds.
Former chief Nick Mwendwa, in this same month, was arrested after the Kenyan government put together a caretaker committee to run the country's football and look into financial misconduct during his reign. Mwenda was arrested also in July this year on charges of misappropriating $312,000.
For this reason, Kenya was not permitted to play or host FIFA games.
