Otieno has stepped down from his role after five years in the job.
Barry Otieno, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), has officially stepped down from his role, fueling speculation that he may be preparing to run for the federation's presidency in the upcoming elections.
Otieno tendered his resignation on Friday, citing the pressures of the demanding position as his primary reason for stepping down. While his future intentions remain unclear, many believe that he is gearing up to enter the presidential race, which is set to be one of the most hotly contested in FKF's history.
When contacted, Otieno confirmed his departure but remained evasive about his potential candidacy for the FKF presidency.
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"The position has been very demanding for me, and so I have time off at this time. Personally, I have not thought about contesting, though there are many demands on me to throw my weight in the ring. Nothing has been decided yet, and so we shall see what happens," he said as quoted on Mozzart Sport.
Otieno's resignation comes at a pivotal time as FKF president Nick Mwendwa is intensifying his efforts to secure support for a controversial third term in the forthcoming elections.
Mwendwa recently held a meeting with branch officials from 48 counties, a gathering which conspicuously lacked Otieno’s presence, further fueling speculation about Otieno's next move. Mwendwa is also planning additional meetings with club officials in the coming weeks to strengthen his position ahead of the December 7 national election.
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Otieno was appointed CEO in 2019, following the resignation of his predecessor, Robert Muthomi, who stepped down amid a transfer controversy involving former Sofapaka striker John Avire.
During his tenure, Otieno has been a key figure in Mwendwa's administration and a trusted confidant of the current FKF president.
Should Otieno decide to run for the top post, he would join an already crowded field of candidates, including former FKF president Sam Nyamweya, Hussein Mohammed, Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino, Tom Alila, and Sammy Ocholla, all of whom have declared their intentions to contest.
The FKF elections are set to begin at the branch level on November 9, culminating in the national elections on December 7. With Otieno’s potential entry into the race, the competition for the FKF presidency promises to be one of the fiercest in recent memory.