Karanja latest entrant in FKF presidency race, seek to make impact on sport

Former Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) Executive Director Peter Karanja is the latest candidate to declare his intention to vie for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) top post when elections are held this year.

Karanja also a former Mathare Youth FC chairman said he is campaigning on an agenda of empowering clubs.

Among his ambition once elected is to allow clubs to run the respective leagues from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), National Super League (NSL) and Women League.

Under his leadership, he says the KPL will revert to a 16 team competition just like it used to be before this was changed six years ago.

“I will also hand over the management of the National Super League (NSL) to clubs and ensure it has two zones of 18 clubs each,” he added.

Under his watch, Karanja said, he will allow all the clubs to own their own broadcasting rights to ensure that they are adequately compensated.

“To ensure that local academies are producing the required talent, we shall asses and license them so that they are run professionally. This will help in the improvement of both men and women national teams in different age categories,” he said.

Karanja also promised to empower branches so that they can professionally manage their own leagues as well as allocate more funds to these entities.

Another area that Karanja wants to build is the capacity of coaches, referees, medical personnel and all other officials involved in the game.

Karanja pointed out that the local football administration is in badly need of winning back the trust of stakeholders.

“With my vast experience in the football management and sustainable development through my involvement in various football programmes, I consider having what it takes to bring stability and prosperity to the Kenyan football if elected as the FKF President,” he said.