Mwendwa: Why I abstained from Caf vote
By DAVID KWALIMWAFootball Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa says he was “protecting Kenya’s interests” by abstaining from voting during a crucial proposal at last week’s Confederation of African Football’s Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo.
Mwendwa skipped the vote when Thursday’s proposal by the Djibouti Football Federation for the modification of Article 18.3 of CAF Statues regarding the candidacy to the presidency of Caf was subjected to a vote.
The statute restricts potential candidates for Caf presidency only to members of its 15-man executive committee, a move that is perceived to enable long-serving incumbent Issa Hayatou’s to retain his position.
“That decision (not to vote) was a strategy. You see, I was protecting Kenya’s interests. Let us not confuse these things though, because a majority of us (FA presidents) want that rule changed.” Mwendwa told Nairobi News.
When pressed further on which “interests” he was protecting, Mwendwa explained: “My vote wouldn’t even have changed anything (as things turned out). 17 votes doesn’t even amount to half of the total votes (and yet 75 percent was required).
SOUNDLY DEFEATED
Minus Mwendwa’s contribution, this proposal was still soundly defeated for failing to gain the backing of at least 75 % of the votes cast among Caf’s 54 members.
According to the final tally of the vote, 32 federations shot down the proposal, whilst 16 FAs including Uganda and Tanzania were in favour, while Mwendwa and five other FAs, including Ethiopia’s, opted not to participate.
These results greatly limit opposition for Hayatou, should he – as expected – choose to extend his stay in 28-year-old stay at the helm of Caf during next year’s elections.