• FKF also receives a total of Sh 50 million from the Geneva-based body to organise men's, women's and youth competitions involving 10 or more clubs for up to 90 matches.
• The world football governing body lifted the ban as soon as Namwamba reinstated the expelled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee and its secretariat.
Image: FILE
A 17 per cent increase in Fifa's budget for the next World Cup cycle is some good news for Kenyan football.
In a press conference on the sidelines of the 2022 World Cup in Doha, Qatar, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the body had allocated $7.5billion for its activities over the next four years, up from $6.4 billion in 2018-2022.
Infantino stated that the Fifa Council had approved the budget for the next four-year cycle, which anticipates $11 billion in revenue.
Fifa has a tradition of providing annual grants to member federations to help develop the game around the world.
Based on published accounts, every four years, the Football Kenya Federation is allocated Sh200 million for specific projects such as pitches, technical centres and training grounds.
FKF also receives a total of Sh50 million from the Geneva-based body to organise men's, women's and youth competitions involving 10 or more clubs for up to 90 matches.
Without a doubt, FKF deserves a pat on the back for making good use of Fifa funds. The federation has established youth development centres, provided courses for coaches and referees, and raised the game's standards by improving the quality of lower-division leagues.
The country was on the right track until February of this year when Fifa imposed a far-reaching ban due to third-party interference. This followed the government's expulsion of an elected federation and the establishment of a committee to oversee football in the country.
Disagreements arose concerning the use of government funds allocated to FKF for the Harambee Stars campaign at Afcon 2019. Fortunately, the new Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba, has moved quickly to restore normalcy, effectively allowing Kenya to continue receiving the Fifa funds.
The world football governing body lifted the ban as soon as Namwamba reinstated the expelled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee and its secretariat.
Kenya has long been reduced to a spectator on the global stage and there is an increasing need to take drastic action to change the country's football narrative.
The good news from Switzerland comes at a time when the Kenyan government has devised a lofty plan to raise the country's football standards. The government recently announced a campaign to raise Kenyan football to the required levels of competition.
President William Ruto announced that he had agreed to spearhead a grassroots football development program in which the national government will collaborate with county governments to invest heavily in youth football.
For such an ambitious plan to see the light of day, the government and FKF must work together. Fortunately, FKF CEO Barry Otieno has stated that the organisation will collaborate closely with the government to make this dream a reality.
It will be an excellent opportunity for the federation to walk the talk. Using Fifa and Sports funds wisely could be the first step toward realising the country's Football Vision 2030, which includes Harambee Stars'participation in the 2030 World Cup and Kenya hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
FKF must be prepared to open its accounts for auditing and allow the publicto hold it accountable for the use of funds received from various sources.