Celebrated Kenyan Referee Aden Marwa Kicked Out of Russia FIFA World Cup After He’s Caught on Camera Receiving Sh60,000 Bribe

Celebrated Kenyan referee Aden Marwa will not be officiating matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia after bribery allegations.

The Star reports that FIFA has confirmed that Marwa has been kicked out of officiating the World Cup after a Ghananian journalist captured him on camera allegedly receiving a $600 (Sh60,000) bribe.

Marwa was among 10 assistant referees picked from Africa to officiate this year's tournament that will start next week. The 41-year-old left the country for Russia on Saturday after Teachers Service Commission (TSC) granted him a one-month leave to undertake the task.

Marwa teaches Mathematics and Chemistry at Komotobo Secondary school in Kuria, Migori county. The exposé showing Marwa receiving a bribe in a hotel room was published by the BBC on Thursday. 

His accuser said the video was shot during the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) tournament in Morocco and Marwa is heard acknowledging the bribe as a ‘gift’ to influence an unknown match.

"You know, thank you for the gift but the most important is that friendship, getting to know each other,"Marwa, who was on his seventh year serving as a Fifa referee, is heard saying.

Marwa flew the Kenyan flag high when he officiated the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.