In over two months, Kenyan football has become a soap opera in which two sets of characters are battling for control of a damsel's heart — in this case, the game.
Embattled Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has won and lost in this war as he continues incurring the wrath of clinching his fists at a giant in the form of the government.
He could do nothing as an inspection report ordered by Sports CS Amina Mohammed recommended the disbandment of the federation due to allegations of mismanagement.
Mwendwa briefly basked in glory as the court ordered the closure of his case file and reimbursement of his bail money after the prosecution failed to present its charges against him.
Just two days later, however, he was sandwiched between two detectives in the back of a car destined for DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road.
Threats of a looming Fifa ban have done little to deter Amina, who appointed a caretaker committee to take care of football matters for the next six months.
The Aaron Ringera-led committee has thus far set the weekend of December 4 as the date for the resumption of the country's top-flight leagues after earlier suspending them for two weeks.
This FKF vs government push-and-pull has inevitably sucked in various stakeholders, who have taken sides, depending on whoever butters their bread.
Despite the presence of Gor Mahia legend John Bobby Ogolla and former Ulinzi Starlets striker Neddy Atieno in the caretaker committee, some quarters feel the interests of footballers have been excluded from this clean-up of the sport.
Drowned in this tumultuous sea of uncertainty are the voices of fans who, bar footballers, have suffered the most from the deteriorating standards of the game in Kenya.
Most fans have been reduced to ranting on social media on what needs to change in Kenyan football for it to provide them with the entertainment that would rival the ones produced by the likes of the English Premier League, LaLiga and Bundesliga.
Fans are what give football the oomph and are the basis on which potential corporate sponsors come on board to invest in the game.
In the past, we have been accused of preferring the comfort of sports bars and a cold drink as we feast our eyes on SuperSport, watching Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool in action.
On the other hand, a game between Mathare United and Sofapaka would struggle to fill the 60,000-seater Moi Stadium, Kasarani, as fans stay away.
The reason being that we feel Kenyan football is nothing to write home about in terms of entertainment and professionalism. Now that Amina has embarked on a clean-up of the game, it is time fans' voices are heard loud and clear on the way forward.
We are an important stakeholder in the game and consultative forums in which we vent out our frustrations, air our grievances and make suggestions will be a right step to making Kenyan football great again.
