FKF suspends Mathare United pair in match-fixing probe

Mathare United’s Lennox Ogutu and Alphonse Ndonye have been suspended from active football over match-fixing allegations, according to a letter seen by Citizen Digital.

The suspension by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) bars both players from attending or competing in any football competitions with immediate effect.

“FKF requests you to furnish the FKF Integrity Department with the official contact details of Mr. Ogutu and Mr. Ndonye through integrity@footballkenya.org.

“In an effort to protect the integrity of the game during this investigation period, we wish to inform you that we have regrettably suspended both Mr. Ogutu and Mr. Ndonye from all football acitivities until the matter is concluded,” FKF said in a letter to the Mathare CEO Jacktone Obure.

Kenyan football has been under scrutiny over the last few years due to match-fixing problems.

Last month, FKF suspended 14 players and two coaches for match-fixing allegations after receiving a tip-off about cheating in the Kenyan game.

Among those suspended included six players from Zoo Kericho FC, which was found guilty of match-fixing by FIFA’s integrity unit in 2021 and expelled from the Kenyan top-flight.

In February 2020, FIFA banned four Kenyan players – one for life – over an “international conspiracy” to fix league matches.

Five Kenyan referees were later suspended over the same scandal.