Football Kenya Federation’s decision to sanction two referees may appear routine on the surface, but the manner, timing and targets of the action point to a deeper reckoning within Kenyan football officiating.
FKF has confirmed the demotion of FIFA referee Erick Njogu to the National Super League after a technical review of his performance in two Premier League fixtures, Kariobangi Sharks versus Shabana FC and Nairobi United against Mathare United.
Assistant referee Fredrick Kajongo has meanwhile been issued with a formal warning following an incorrect offside decision in the Kenya Police versus Mathare United match.
Crucially, this is the second round of referee sanctions in less than a week, following the demotion of second assistant referee Jackson Opiayo and warnings issued to referee David Serem and first assistant referee Gladys Kamuren.
The clustering of disciplinary action suggests an ongoing internal audit of refereeing standards rather than isolated punishment.
What stands out is FKF’s willingness to name matches, detail errors, and publicly outline corrective measures, particularly in the case of Njogu, whose FIFA status makes the demotion notable. His performance will now be monitored across five National Super League matches before any consideration of reinstatement to the top tier.
For years, Kenyan football has struggled with a credibility problem where officiating is concerned. This is not a perception born purely from fan frustration.
Kenyan football has previously been entangled in confirmed match manipulation cases, with FIFA issuing bans to players and officials linked to fixing schemes, some involving international betting syndicates. Those rulings, issued after formal investigations, placed Kenya among countries flagged globally for integrity vulnerabilities in football.
It is against that historical backdrop that even genuine refereeing errors are now viewed through a harsher lens. Supporters no longer assess controversial decisions in isolation. The question has shifted from was it a mistake? to how is the system responding?
FKF’s recent actions suggest an awareness of that reality. By opting for demotions, written warnings and performance monitoring rather than quiet reassignment, the federation appears intent on restoring confidence through visible accountability.
Still, challenges remain. Kenyan Premier League matches are played without VAR, referees operate under intense pressure, and remuneration for officials remains modest compared to the stakes involved in top-flight football. Errors, therefore, are inevitable. The long-term test for FKF will be whether these sanctions evolve into a sustained refereeing development framework, rather than episodic crackdowns prompted by public outcry.
For now, the message from the federation is clear: performance will be reviewed, status will not shield officials from consequences, and scrutiny of match officiating is no longer confined to the terraces.
Whether that is enough to rebuild trust in the whistle is a question Kenyan football has been asking for years. What is new is that FKF now appears to be answering it, at least administratively, in public.
