 Swaleh is one of the former officials on trial |
The lawyer defending three former Kenya Football Federation (KFF) officials accused of corruption insists the charges against his clients are flawed. James Orengo is defending former KFF chairman Maina Kariuki, general secretary Hussein Swaleh and treasurer Mohammed Hatimy.
The former officials were charged on 7 July with fraudulently obtaining more that US $632,000 dollars from the federation.
Orengo told the court on Monday that the charges were not justified since they were aimed at barring them from attending a tripartite meeting at the headquarters of football's world governing body Fifa.
The meeting in Zurich was organised to resolve the dispute that led to the suspension of the East African country from international football.
Fifa imposed the ban in June, which has prevented the Harambee Stars, Kenya's national team, from participating in the group qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup finals.
A decision by the Kenyan government to sack the KFF board, and appoint a caretaker committee to run football, was responsible for Fifa's action.
Meanwhile, Kenyan Sports Minister Ochillo Ayacko is scheduled to have talks in Zurich with Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday.
The lifting of Kenya's indefinite suspension as well as the country's participation in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers are two items expected to be discussed at the meeting.
MMIX
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