Dr. Peter Waweru Kamaku has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football to serve as one of the Video Assistant Referees (VAR) during the January 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament in Algeria; becoming the first Kenyan to serve in that position.
Dr. Waweru who is also the Director Sports and Games JKUAT ticks another box of upward mobility in global sporting profession; almost becoming constant fixture in Africa’s footballing arena.
The don’s tapping by CAF comes barely days after the lifting of FIFA suspension on Kenya which now puts kenya back to competitive football and refereeing appointments.
Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Waweru said, “I glorify God for the great opportunity to represent my country and my university JKUAT at international level. JKUAT is now on the world map in sports and this will help mentor many young people towards career building sporting careers.”
JKUAT Vice Chancellor Victoria Ngumi characterised Dr. Waweru as a go-getter whose sporting acumen continues to provide tremendous inspiration to the whole JKUAT community. The Vice Chancellor wished Dr. Waweru well in his new role.
Dr. Waweru who teaches Pure and Applied Mathematics at JKUAT has consolidated a streak of success in his career in recent years. Last year, Waweru was crowned the Best Referee of the Year at the 2020/2021 Football Kenya Federation Premier League Awards. Months earlier, the don made history by becoming Kenya’s first Centre Referee to officiate a match at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Waweru became a FIFA accredited referee in 2017. Two years later, he participated in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger. He has since officiated in FIFA World Cup U-19 Brazil, 2019; AFCON Egypt, 2019; and CHAN Cameroon, 2021.
Dr. Waweru’s rise as a football referee can be attributed to his professional mien defined by precision, calmness and fairness.
Source: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology