City lawyer refutes claims of representing former boss
Nairobi lawyer Amos Otieno yesterday distanced himself from former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Sam Nyamweya as he presented his papers to the federation’s Electoral Board ahead of the upcoming polls.
Otieno who is well known as ‘Wakili’ in the football circles, will be seeking to be chairman of Nairobi East branch, during the September 19 County elections.
Word had been going round that he was representing Nyamweya in court in a case barring the current office from conducting the polls.
“I want to categorically state that I’m not representing Nyamweya in any football case. I have been a lawyer for Kenyan Premier League limited, but that does not change my stand on football reforms.
I fully support the reforms and we want the elections to be conducted as per the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal in March and May this year,” said Otieno who is a former chairman of FKF Kasarani Sub Branch.
He added: “We are ready for elections and there must be reforms to allow a free and fair exercise to all members.
The main reform is on eligibility of voters and aspirants. The elections dates should be extended so as to allow the stakeholders to agree on the rules of elections which should allow all eligible and qualified clubs and delegates to vote at the sub county, counties and national levels.”
The entry of Otieno in the race may to complicate matters for former branch vice-chairman George Onyango who was also seeking the top seat and was initially unopposed.
Otieno is the Chief Executive of Baba Dogo United football club which plays in the Nairobi East County League.
FKF Electoral Board offices had a bee-hive of activities yesterday on the final day of aspirants for County positions to present their nomination forms.
The Board received forms from aspirants from Mombasa, West Pokot, Nairobi East, Taita Taveta and Trans Nzoia counties on the first day of the exercise.
Aspirants seeking elective positions at the national level will submit their papers on August 31, 2020 and the national elections will be held on October 17.
Meanwhile, Nyamweya yesterday expressed displeasure with the manner in which the Electoral Board was conducting it’s affairs.
“The FKF Electoral Board has confirmed our worst fears that its lacks the will and capacity to conduct free, fair, credible and all inclusive elections.
The purported exercise being carried by board is a sham, a charade and mockery of the basic tenets of democracy,” said Nyamweya who is seeking to return as the president of the federation.
He added: “Me and my supportes will only be part of an electoral process that is anchored in the enabling law being the Sports Act of 2013, one of that respects and adheres to the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal and one which all members of FKF from the grassroots to the national level are accorded their democratic right to freely participate in the elections.”
