Kimanzi led Kenya (in white) to the final round of World Cup qualifying

The Kenyan government has called for Francis Kimanzi to be reinstated as coach of the country's national team.

Kimanzi was axed earlier this month, just weeks before the start of the last round of qualifying for the World and Nations Cups in 2010.

Football Kenya Limited (FKL), which runs the game in the country, said it was acting "in the best interests of the national team".

But the assistant sports minister wants the decision reversed.

Kabando Wa Kabando told the BBC that Kimanzi did not deserve to be summarily dismissed.

"The minister's position is that we should reinstate the coach because the Harambee Stars are in dire need of adequate and consistent training and coaching," he told the BBC's African sports programme Fast Track.

The political intervention threatens to reignite a row over government involvement in the running of the sport.

Kenya has twice served bans from international football in the past five years because of what Fifa deems "political interference" in the game.

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