KEFWA PRESIDENT ASKS GOVERNMENT TO CRIMINALIZE MATCH FIXING AFTER POLICE ARREST TWO FOREIGNERS IN NAIROBI.

Speaking to the Media in Nairobi after Police arrested two foreigners and a Kenyan suspected to be involved in a lucrative deal of Ksh. 1.4 Million match-fixing scandal,Situma was insistence that unless the government intervenes,Kenyan Football is headed to be history.

"The Government needs to impose criminal penalties in fines and possible jail terms on individuals caught in match-fixing since it is a crime,just as any other abhorred by the Kenyan Government,"he noted,further urging clubs to work in unison with the union and the Federation to curb the menace.

"Clubs also have a responsibility to curb such incidents by ensuring they offer their players good salaries,Hopefully,now that we are looking forward to the implementation of Standard Contracts,better and sufficient salaries for our members will help in stopping the vice before it penetrates deeper and spreads its roots further,"noted Situma.

According to the former Harambee Stars Marksman and Tusker FC,AFC Leopards,Sofapaka and Kakamega Homeboyz Captain,Kenyan footballers on the other hand must also learn to believe in good work ethics because this is the only path to scaling greater heights.

" There are no shortcut to success.Our players should have it in their DNA that it is persistence,hardwork and discipline that will yield fruits to their careers in the long run,"he voiced.

For years,the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association(KEFWA) has been advocating against Match-Fixing,A vice that has become a threat to Kenyan Football.

Through initiatives such as the Red-button campaign and other training programs,professional football players in Kenya are now more aware of how to report the cases.

This was evident in the recent case on Friday evening where Police arrested 3 individuals in Nairobi who are suspected of being behind the match fixing menace.

Two foreigners: A Russian(Akhiad kubeiv), Ugandan(Bernard Navendi) and Kenyan(Martin Munga Mutua) had long nights at Kasarani police station after being nabbed  in Roysambu as they tried to influence a Kenyan Premier League(KPL) match slated for the weekend.

According to reports,the trio approached some city stars players to help them execute their plan in an enticing deal of 1.4Million to manipulate the match between Nairobi City Stars and Sofapaka scheduled for Saturday at Ruaraka Grounds in Nairobi.

KEFWA President James Situma and Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir blew the whistle on the vice,revealing how they 'lay the trap' for the suspects after being tipped off by a KEFWA confidant. 

"Our KEFWA confidant eavesdropped on the conversation matchfixers were having while trying to lure players into the deal, and quickly reached out. We immediately tipped off the Law enforcers as we headed to the scene."they described the moment.

Previous Incidents.

In January 2019,the then Kakamega Homeboyz coach was dismissed after he was accused of allegedly engaging in acts of manipulating match results.

The development came just days after FIFA invoked article 69 paragraph one of the FIFA Disciplinary code to ban Homeboyz players Moses Chikati,Festus Okiring,George Mandela and Festus Omukoto who is currently an ambassador against match Fixing who helped in nabbing the suspects.

On April 24,2019,former Harambee Stars player George Owino was banned from all football-related activities for 10years and fined Kshs.1.5Million by FIFA over match-fixing. 

In January,14 players and two coaches were suspended for match-fixing after FKF received a tip-of about cheating in the National league.

Last month,two players from the Nairobi based Mathare United were barred from taking part in any football-related activities until investigations into their suspected involvement in match-fixing syndicate were completed.

Despite efforts from KEFWA,FKF,FIFA among other stakeholders,Match Fixing seems to be a deeply rooted vice in the country which should be criminalized by the Government.