Sam Nyamweya exits race after risky play with grand promises – What does this mean for December 7 elections?

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Sam Nyamweya exits race after risky play with grand promises – What does this mean for December 7 elections?

Festus Chuma 06:30 - 27.10.2024

Sam Nyamweya had launched a bold 10-year strategy aimed at transforming Kenyan football, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in the upcoming FKF presidential elections on December 7.

Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya has withdrawn from the FKF presidential race, stepping aside from his bid to return to the federation's top seat in the upcoming December 7 elections.

Nyamweya has decided to support Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula marking a significant shift in the race dynamics.

But Nyamweya's recent unveiling of an ambitious 10-year strategic plan aimed at revitalizing Kenyan football continues to stir interest among football stakeholders.

Nyamweya, who served as FKF president from 2011 to 2016, detailed his strategy for reviving and transforming Kenyan football, positioning it as a regional powerhouse.

In an interview, the veteran football administrator explained what were his motivations for running again.

“Some of you know that I have been president and secretary general before opting out in 2016. But looking around at what is happening in football, I have decided to come back and revive the game,” he said as per The Star.

Nyamweya’s strategic plan covered the 2025-2035 period and hinges on three core themes: reviving, transforming and uniting Kenyan football.

He aimed to build strong national and county leagues, restore league management to an independent contractor and ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the sport’s structure and governance.

“My theme of returning is reviving, transforming, and uniting Kenyan football from 2025 to 2035. We will create strong national and county leagues and return them to an independent contractor,” Nyamweya noted, emphasizing the need for reform.

He also highlighted Kenya’s potential on the world stage, pointing to past successes as evidence of the country’s untapped footballing talent.

During his previous tenure, Nyamweya led Kenya’s national team, Harambee Stars, to an impressive world ranking of 68, a high he intended to match or even surpass if was elected.

Kenya currently ranks 106th in the world, as of October 24, reflecting the nation’s struggle to maintain momentum in recent years.

“My team and I will work round the clock to ensure that we give Kenyans the best experience during Afcon 2027. Running this tournament is not an easy thing. We will have partnerships with other sports organizations, especially CAF and FIFA,” he stated.

Among the strategic priorities, Nyamweya was also focused on tackling critical issues affecting the sport’s integrity.

Match-fixing scandals have tarnished the reputation of Kenyan football and Nyamweya was determined to address this by seeking legislative support from Parliament.

He hoped to criminalize match manipulation through new laws, setting a precedent to protect the sport and its players.

“Clubs will get annual grants to help them run their operations. They have been suffering. This (issuance of grants) is one way of ensuring that these (match manipulation) are avoided,” he explained.

Nyamweya’s plan also included decentralizing Kenyan football leagues to encourage a broader and more competitive pool of talent.

Currently, Nairobi-based clubs have been perceived as dominant forces within the FKF Premier League, a trend Nyamweya was keen to reverse by empowering clubs across the country.

“I will also decentralize the leagues to make them more competitive. Over the years, we have seen Nairobi-based clubs dominate the Kenyan Premier League. I think that is not right,” he remarked.

Before pulling out, Nyamweya faced a diverse field of candidates in the FKF presidential race, including Tom Alila, Doris Petra, Sam Ocholla, Sammy Owino, Chris Amimo, Hussein Mohamed, Cleophas Shimanyula, and Barry Otieno.

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