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Fifa set to agree on repeat FKF polls, trashes Normalisation Committee thought

Friday, March 20th, 2020 23:06 | By
FKF president Nick Mwendwa(right) when he paid acourtesy call on former PrimeMinister Raila Odinga at the latter’s Capital Hill offices last month. PD/ FIL

World football governing body is set to officially announce the guidelines regarding Kenyan football elections impasse on Monday, but People Sport on Friday got wind on what the verdict entails.

According to high-placed sources in Zurich, the headquarters of Fifa, the global body after analysing the ruling made by Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) chairman John Ohaga on Tuesday, will uphold the idea of a repeat election but dismiss suggestions of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the next polls.

The sources said Fifa could also give Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa and his entire National Executive Committee (NEC) the benefit of doubt to come up with a new Electoral Code in consultation with the global body by June, depending on how long the coronavirus pandemic will last, then have a congress ratify the code in a Special General Meeting in July before polls are conducted in August.

In his ruling, Ohaga recommended the formation of a Normalisation Committee by Fifa for short term running of the sport and oversee the elections, noting that the last two exercises lacked compliance.

He also recommended that Mwendwa,his deputy Dorris Petra and the eight NEC members be considered as persona non grata, owing to the fact that their term in office elapsed on February 10.

“Fifa has agreed that the repeat polls are on, but the issue of appointing a Normalisation Committee is uncalled for,because Kenya is not yet in a crisis and the action would affect the structure and operations of FKF.

So Mwendwa is still in charge of the federation together with his NEC members,” said the highly placed source who sought anonymity.He said the verdict had been passed and was only going through some legal approvals before being made formal.

When asked about the developments,FKF secretariat said they were yet to receive any communication from Fifa, but expected their response by Monday.

The intended verdict will come as a relief for local football enthusiasts as it rules out the possibility of a ban which seemed looming.

This will be the third time the federation will be going to polls after Ohaga on December 3, 2019 nullified the first elections and called for public participation.-Webster Nyandika

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