FKF elections: What presidential candidates will need to contest much-awaited polls

FOOTBALL FKF elections: What presidential candidates will need to contest much-awaited polls

Joel Omotto 15:38 - 06.01.2024

Football Kenya Federation finally set in the motion the roadmap to the upcoming elections but what will those seeking to unseat Nick Mwendwa need for them to be on the ballot?

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) finally laid a roadmap to the much-awaited elections following the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Nairobi on Saturday.

At the meeting, FKF resolved to hold an Annual General Meeting on March 16 which will ratify the Electoral Board and Electoral Code but emphasised that the FKF Electoral Code (2020) which was used in the last polls is what will be relied upon yet again.

That means candidates who are seeking to vie for various posts have a number of tough conditions to abide by before they are cleared to contest.

So far, incumbent Nick Mwendwa, who is serving his second term, has not confirmed whether he will seek a fresh mandate following claims that his first term was under the old constitution, but there is interest in the presidential seat from Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohammed, former Harambee Stars midfielder McDonald Mariga, Gor Mahia legend Sammy Owino ‘Kempes’, Murang’a Seal CEO Robert Macharia and Gor Mahia secretary General Sam Ocholla among others.

They will, however, have to overcome a number of hurdles to get on the ballot. As per the FKF Electoral Code (2020), a candidate seeking the top seat will have to pay a non-refundable fee of Ksh300,000 but that is just a small part of the requirements.

“Each candidate shall have been active in football (i.e. registered as an NEC member, Committee member, Referee, Assistant Referee, Coach, Trainer, or as any other person responsible for Technical, Medical or Administrative matters in FKF, League or Club or as a Player) for three of the last four years before being proposed as a candidate,” reads part of the Electoral Code (2020).

“Each candidate shall present declarations of support from at least five (5) of the seventy-eight (78) eligible voters as per Art. 21of the 2012FKF constitution. No candidate shall present an endorsement from a club/member that has endorsed another candidate. 

"Such an endorsement shall be deemed as null and void. In the event of a dispute pertaining to double endorsements, the FKF General Secretary being the custodian of clubs and members’ registry, shall advise the board on which endorsement is valid.”

Then there is the clearance from relevant government institutions that could be a problem for some candidates.

“Each candidate shall present a valid Kenyan Identity Card or Passport, a Certificate of Good Conduct that is no more than 6 months old, Clearance Letter from the Credit Reference Bureau, a Clearance certificate from Higher Educations Loans Board, acknowledgement document from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and a valid Tax Compliance Certificate from K.R.A,” adds the document on those seeking the top seat, who also must have a running mate, that will serve as their vice -president if they win.

The section of the document that requires those seeking elective posts to have been active in football for three of the last four years was heavily contested in the last elections and could come to the fore once again.

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