Sports fraternity mourns ex-Kenya Football Chairman Maina Kariuki

Former football boss Maina Kariuki passes on [photo courtesy]

The Kenyan football fraternity on Tuesday, August 17 paid tribute to Former Kenya Football Federation (KFF) chairman Maina Kariuki, who died on Sunday after a short illness.

Kariuki took over the running of the Kenya Football Federation from Peter Kenneth in 2000 with much promise to bring a pyramid approach to football, promoting the game from the grassroots to the national level.

According to his family, a funeral service will be held on Thursday, 19th August 2021, at Nairobi Chapel, Ngong Road.
Thereafter, the cortege will leave Lee Funeral Home on Friday, 20th August 2021 at 8.00 a.m. for a private family interment where COVID-19 protocols will be strictly observed.

Following the death announcement, former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya expressed shock and grief at the demise of the Former KFF Chairman, eulogising him as a great man and true leader who had a passion for football.

“It is with great shock and sadness that I have learnt of the passing on of Mr Maina Kariuki. He and I share a history together having both managed the Kenyan Football as presidents on different occasions. We had our differences during the time we both fought for the chairmanship of the Kenya Football Federation in 2000 and while he was later to take over, I gave him all the support and advise he required given he had taken over from our previous office led by Peter Kenneth as chair and I as secretary-general,” said Nyamweya.

Nyamweya also noted that Kariuki's contributions saw Harambee Stars ultimately qualify for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in its turbulent moments when he served as its chairman.

“It is the foundation that we had set especially at the national team level that his office picked from and Kenya ultimately qualified for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations,” Nyamweya added.

“Kariuki also played a key role in soccer development when he was the Marketing Executive at Coca Cola which sponsored the annual Coca Cola Under 17 championships that was to produce budding footballers who ended up playing for the country.

“The loss of Mar Kariuki is a big one for this country because while he had taken a low profile from football management, his counsel, advice and huge experience was still needed," he concluded.

May Maina Kariuki's soul rest in eternal peace.