Nyamweya to shun FKF elections nominations
Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Sam Nyamweya has pulled out of the nomination exercise for the forthcoming elections dismissing it as a farce.
With the presentation of the nomination papers by presidential candidates taking place today, former FKF national treasurer Twaha Mbarak has also dropped out of the race, saying the exercise is not credible.
It is not clear if fellow candidates Herbert Mwachiro and former Cecafa boss Nicholas Musonye will present their papers as their phones went unanswered as if the time of going to press.
The process that will take place between 2pm and 5pm today at the FKF headquarters, the Goal Project offices in Kasarani, had seen only Boniface Osano and his running mate Innocent Mutiso confirm their participation.
The candidates who had presented their papers before the elections were cancelled are not required to do so again.
Osano, a journalist, has promised to bring changes in grassroots football if elected and rubbished claims he was a project of the incumbent.
A section of contestants have shown discontent with the process and are urging the Sports Registrar to cancel the elections.
Nyamweya has been most vocal of them, calling the forthcoming election process as flawed.
“I will only be part of an electoral process that is anchored in the enabling law being the Sports Act of 2013, one that respects and adheres to the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal and one in which all members of FKF from the grassroots to the national level are accorded their democratic right to freely participate in the elections.”
Meanwhile, the FKF Elections Board has published a preliminary delegates list ahead of both the county and national elections next month.
Both lists have been subjected to intense scrutiny by both the contestants and their followers as the board seeks to put a long winding process to bed after countless lawsuits.
Lobbying and campaigns have taken centre stage even as some contestants are pulling out of the exercise claiming there is lack of transparency.
Board chairperson Kentice Tikolo has expressed optimism that in accordance with the roadmap they had provided to Fifa, they are ready to conduct the elections.
Her office has come under fire from a section of contestants who have accused her of operating under the whims and influence of current president Nick Mwendwa but she has vehemently denied all the allegations.
“We have a clear mandate and tight timelines so we must adhere to them. In any case we have the blessings of Fifa who indicated that we use the electoral code passed by the FKF executive committee in the AGM last year.
At the same time we are in the process of receiving and scrutinising nomination papers of candidates and if complaints will come through, then we will handle them through our appeals channel, “said Tikolo.
It has already been indicated that 88 delegates from 46 counties from the Kenyan Premier League, National Super League, Women’s Premier League and FKF Division One will take part in the exercise.
Only 10 clubs from the Women’s Premier League, National Super League and FKF Division One will be involved while the FKF Division 1 Women’s Championship will produce four representatives at the national elections slated for October 17.
FKF CEO Barry Otieno in an earlier interview called for a speedy comprehensive conclusion to the exercise to avoid problems with Fifa.
“We must be prepared to sacrifice ego and focus on what is good for the game. The long court processes are frustrating so I feel elections must be allowed to proceed once and for all.
This is an opportunity we must not throw away and indeed we have to comply with Fifa demands on timelines so this is crucial.”
Of the 18 premiership sides,only Sony Sugar was yet to provide a delegate’s name for submission as voter but the The board indicated that it would be clarified soon.
Tikolo also confirmed that the last polls list would be used in the exercise.
