49 match officials have on August 21, 2021, been certified by Football Kenya Federation, upon successful completion of a first of its kind referees course in Nyandarua County.
The match officials, drawn from Kinangop, Kipipiri, Ol-Jororok, Ol-Kalou, and Ndaragwa sub-counties have consequently been given the FKF County Branch’s blessings to officiate Branch and Sub-Branch League matches.
“Since we came into office in 2020, we have increased the number of clubs taking part in our regional, branch, and sub-branch leagues from only three to over 120. This, therefore, calls for investment in referees training, to ensure that our grassroot league matches are handled in a professional way,” said FKF Nyandarua County Branch Chairperson Lucy Kageni.
Among the 49 officials trained was Mary Wamuyu Njuguna, who aspires to officiate on the international stage in the near future.
“I have always been passionate about refereeing. I want to thank FKF and the Nyandarua County Government for giving me this opportunity. With the knowledge gained, I now hope to practice when I go back home. Hopefully, I can become a FIFA Referee soon,” she said.
FKF has in the past one month trained 214 referees at the Class III level in Nyeri, Kericho, and Murang’a Counties, in a move aimed at ensuring that match officials who take charge of lower-tier league matches are not only kept abreast with the ever-evolving Laws of the Game but also understand the physical demands they need to meet to be able to officiate at the top level.
More courses have been lined up in Nakuru, Narok, Kiambu, and Laikipia Counties in the coming month.
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