Former FKF boss Sam Nyamweya demands election roadmap
Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Sam Nyamweya has challenged his successor Nick Mwendwa to release a roadmap towards the sports body’s elections.
In a statement to the media on December 1, 2023, Nyamweya accused Mwendwa of deliberately delaying the polls.
“I would like to state that football in Kenya belongs to Kenyans and stakeholders and not Mwendwa. He should know his tenure is over and thus pave way and let the bonafide delegates take the vote on whom they want as their President come February (2024),” said Nyamweya.
Nyamweya statement comes days after Mwendwa met the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare after he was summoned to shed light on, among others, the ‘mismanagement of football in the country’.
This is the third time, inside two months that Mwendwa has been summoned at the Senate.
“You cannot stop the election fever mood that has engulfed the country,” added Nyamweya.
“The state of our football in the country is in dire need of visionary men and women who have football at heart and are ready to make hard and painful decision to restore the lost glory of our football. Elections MUST happen next year (2024) whether Mwendwa likes it or not.”
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, in an address to the National Assembly in September, suggested the football elections will be held on February 2024.
Besides the election date, there have been concerns over whether Mwendwa is eligible to contest.
The youthful administrator has been in charge at FKF since 2016.
The Kenyan law indicates a sports administrator can only serve for a maximum of two-four year terms.
Mwendwa’s reign at the helm has brought about mixed results.
His regime oversaw the men and women team’s qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and 2017 respectively plus a win for both the men and women’s teams at the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament.
But his tenure has been dogged by controversies as well, the standout one being when the former Sports CS Amina Mohamed disbanded FKF for alleged mismanagement and economic crimes, a move that had Mwendwa hauled before court.
He was later cleared of the crimes.
Ahead of the polls, Nyamweya, who doubles up as patron of FKF Premier League club Shabana, and US-based ex-footballer Samuel Kempes Owino have declared their candidature.
Others are Extreme Sports Chief Executive Hussein Mohammed, Gor Mahia secretary Sam Ocholla and former FKF Chief Executive Lordvick Aduda.