Battling corruption

A match-fixing investigation by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has resulted in bans for 15 people, including 13 players and two head coaches.

FKF, which oversees professional soccer in Kenya, said it received reports alleging the involvement of various players and officials in match-fixing activities. The body confirmed it has “provisionally suspended” all involved “pending the investigations of the matter by FIFA and the FKF’s integrity department.”

The FKF affirmed that the suspensions align with its:

zero-tolerance policy on match-fixing.”

Among those suspended is Isaac Kipyegon, a defender for Kenya Premier League 2021/22 champion Tusker FC. The two banned coaches include Kiricho FC’s Du Monde Selenga Mangili and Zetech University’s Willis Ochieng Oganyo.

In February 2020, a similar scandal saw FIFA ban four Kenyan players from competition for a match-fixing conspiracy regarding league matches. One of the four was suspended for life. FIFA also suspended five referees for involvement in the same scandal.