FKF vice-chairman Shollei’s six-year ban lifted by Sports Tribunal

Football Stakeholders Under the banner of 'Stop Football Genocide in Kenya' lead by Sammy Shollei and Dan Shikanda in solidarity to offer themselves and actively participate in the forth coming Federation's elections at Hotel Boulevard in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 01st, 2015. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.

Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice-chairman Sammy Sholei’s six-year ban was yesterday lifted by the John Ohaga-led Sports Disputes Tribunal.

Sholei had filed an appeal at the Tribunal following the lengthy ban from FKF’s Special General Meeting last year. The ban had sought to keep him off football related matters until 2020.

The FKF had argued that Sholei had contravened the federation’s constitution by taking the football ruling and its President Sam Nyamweya to court.

Tribunal members Gabriel Ouko, Peter Ochieng and Elynah Sifuna Shiveka delivered their ruling on behalf of their chairman.

“The Tribunal lifts with immediate effect the suspension inclusive of the six-year ban on Sholei.

“The Tribunal finds that the period he has served this far, which is at least three (3) years and five months is sufficient punishment.

The ruling further read: “The federation shall make necessary arrangements to ensure that, in the event that Sholei chooses to run for any elective post in the upcoming elections, he shall do so without any impediments.

“The federation shall conduct their Annual General Meeting on August 28, 2015 and in its agenda shall include the matter of registration of the Federation under the Sports Act 2013 which registration must be undertaken immediately thereafter and in any event within 60 days from the date of the AGM.”

On his part Sholei, said that justice had finally been served. However, he insisted there was no need to resume his office now that the polls are just around the corner.

“There is nothing much to do in there. If I go back, I will be sinking into some ditch. But it’s a fair ruling. We are satisfied. I wish this Tribunal was here four years ago,” Shollei said.
He added: “I will weigh up whether I should run for any FKF post in the forthcoming elections. But I have to wait for the election procedures to be released by FKF.

“If they are favourable then I will make the announcement.”

Sholei was banned together with former Nairobi branch chairman Dan Shikanda.

Shikanda, however, did not appeal his ban at the tribunal.