November 21 – Kenyan football is in chaos again with elections at the football federation have been delayed by government over irregularities identified in the electoral requirements. The elections were supposed to have been held on November 23.
A letter from the sports ministry has criticised the Kenyan FA (KFK) and the leadership of KFK boss Nick Mwendwa, saying they have ignored several directives to regularise the election process.
“The reason for the cancellation of the elections is non-registration of county sports associations, who are supposed to elect the officials of FKF,” stated Ms. Wasike in the letter received at the Sports Dispute Tribunal, (SDT) on November 18. SDT chairman John Ohaga brought the letter to the attention of the parties.
“Please refer to section 47 of the Sports Act, which states that the Sports Registrar should register Sports organisations as a sports club, county sports association or a national organisation. Several times I called the chairman of the organization… to come to my office for advise on the election procedure before I even wrote the letter of October 25, but he never turned up,” said the letter.
“He only turned up on November 1 after receiving my letter whereupon he promised to send me a letter with a commitment that you will cancel the elections scheduled for November 23, 2019 to allow time to register county sports associations that will vote officials of FKF in.”
Wasike argued that she had been left with little choice but to cancel the elections until the requirements are satisfied. A slate of football administrators had challenged the legality of the elections, including Jared Nyauma and former FKF boss Sam Nyamweya, Gor Mahia’s Lodvick Aduda, Alex ole Magelo, Moses Akaranga and Angeline Elijah.
They claim that the current FKF hierarchy are violating all basic principles of democracy, contending that the current electoral rules have been devised in a way to prevent other candidates from standing properly. Advancing their argument, the aggrieved parties say that the current status quo also violates FIFA statues, FIFA standard electoral code and the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
The SDT is excepted to rule on a new elections process on December 3.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714091824labto1714091824ofdlr1714091824owedi1714091824sni@o1714091824fni1714091824