New football electoral board vows to follow FKF const*tution in polls
Newly-appointed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board chairman Kentice Tikolo has said the process that is earmarked before March 30 will be conducted under the federation’s constitution.
The former Wazito FC CEO ruled out more litigation from dissatisfied quarters who have queried the legibility of the FKF Special General Meeting (SGM) held on January 27 in the rundown to elections, saying the board will be guided by the contents of the constitution to carry out the task.
The move is, however, likely to elicit sharp reaction from unsatisfied stakeholders who still feel the exercise is geared towards locking out some aspirants and that it should start from sub-branch level.
“The rules of FKF constitution are crystal clear. Elections will begin from county level then to national and finally to sub-county and I can assure delegates and football stakeholders at large that it will be a credible exercise,” Tikolo said.
She made the announcement yesterday after the unveiling of a reconstituted FKF Electoral Board as directed by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) following the annulment of the December 7, 2019 polls over certain irregularities.
The elections calendar will be out this Friday to roll out the actual date of the exercise.
With Tikolo being named chairman of the board, city lawyer Patrick Onyango will serve as secretary with other members being Sam Karanja, Ali Hassan Kauleni and retired Fifa referee Alfred Andinya.
Tikolo called for the end of the shenanigans and sideshows which infiltrated the abortive exercise last year and called on delegates to elect visionary leaders who will take the sport to the next level.
“Cast your vote while keeping in mind that your decisions will have a strong bearing on where football will be headed. Ours (electoral board) is to ensure we preside over an exercise devoid of controversies,” she said.
FKF Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno said the federation has complied with what was required of them by SDT and advised those who are not satisfied with the amended of Electoral Code to direct their grievances to SDT or world arm, Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Otieno, at the same, chided those making noise on the pretext that the federation has yet to comply with the 2013 Sports Acts thus being ineligible to conduct the SGM ahead of the polls, saying this is a gradual process that has been embraced by the sports ministry as FKF gears up for polls.
“FKF has been steadfast to be compliant just like many other federations which have not fully done so and this is a gradual process by the federation which the government accepts as we head to elections,’’ said Otieno.
He added: “Some of those who are against the SGM and polls were there in the federation when the Act was enacted and did not comply. These are mere politics which should be held with the contempt they deserve,”
Otieno said the federation does not need such mischief, especially, now when it has a huge task in its hands of running the leagues as well as preparing teams for international matches.
