 Kenyans fans are barred from the World Cup qualifier against Tunisia |
Kenya's football crisis deepened on Wednesday as rival factions said they were in charge of the country's football federation.
Titus Kasuve, the former acting secretary-general of the Kenyan Football Federation (KFF) said he had retaken control of the secretariat.
"We are back in office," he told news agency AFP, as Kenya's sports ministry gave Kasuve its backing in his struggle with Fifa.
Fifa's mediation efforts in Kenya led to the appointment of Moni Wekesa as the new secretary-general, after a selection process by international auditors KPMG.
But Wellington Godo, the permanent secretary at the sports ministry, said Wekesa could not take the position.
"The holder of the post must be appointed in accordance with the KFF's constitution," Godo said in his letter to Fifa.
"You should be objective and abide by the KFF's constitution and its own statutes as the wrangles in soccer administration are taking criminal dimensions and threatening law and order," Godo went on.
Meanwhile, Wekesa insisted he is the bona fide KFF secretary-general and had international support to reform the secretariat.
Wekesa said he was in the process of opening new KFF offices and would run the game with the backing of Fifa and other stakeholders in Kenya.
"Information has been circulated worldwide that we are in charge of the game in the country," Wekesa said.
"We have the support and recognition of the clubs, coaches and referees."
Wekesa said the clubs had agreed to go ahead with the start of the league championship on Saturday, despite calls by the rival faction for it to be delayed.
Wednesday's developments were the latest in a series of damaging incidents to have hit Kenyan football after the country's suspension from international football was lifted last year.
KFF chairman Alfred Sambu was badly injured in a mysterious car accident on Tuesday, which he claimed is related to the problems in the federation.
A day earlier, Kasuve and KFF second vice-chairman Erastus Okul, who both oppose Wekesa's appointment, were attacked by people armed with metal bars and machetes outside the federation's office. Okul is still receiving treatment in hospital.
The death of a 15-year-old fan, during Kenya's home World Cup qualifier against Morocco in June, led Fifa to order Kenya to play their 2 September game against Tunisia behind closed doors.
Fifteen people were also injured in the stampede outside the Nyayo stadium, which was blamed on the KFF's decision not to sell tickets before the match.
MMIX
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Match of the Day - Post-match interviews