Will new FKF boss breathe life into Kenyan football?

Football Kenya Federation President-elect Nick Mwendwa addresses delegates before the federation's elections at Kasarani stadium Wednesday. [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Nick Mwendwa emerged as the alternative voice of football administration during the much-discredited Sam Nyamweya’s four-year reign.

When few dared take on the monolith of Kenyan football, Mr Mwendwa threw his hat into the ring and made life very difficult for Mr Nyamweya.

Candidates started emerging when they earlier thought beating the incumbent was virtually impossible. He galvanised nationwide support and set up a strong campaign machine, complete with a massive war chest, which shook football leadership to the core.

When Football Kenya Federation (FKF) closed the door on Kenyan Premier League, it took the boldness of Mwendwa to garner support from delegates to have them reinstated.

When Nyamweya took the annual general meeting to his Kisii backyard, again Mwendwa rallied the support of delegates to storm the venue with a war cry of change, which forced FKF to postpone the meeting, citing insecurity.

INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP

It is now his chance to wear the shoe and feel where it pinches, after he was elected FKF President at Kasarani yesterday.

The 37-year-old Mwendwa, who has interests in Information Technology, promised to inject hope into a sport hitherto associated with incompetent leadership.

Born in Makueni, Mwendwa began his primary education at Makindu ‘A’ School and later on went to Kiserian Junior Seminary and Thomeandu Secondary School for his secondary education.

He later joined Kenya College of Accountancy (now KCA University) in 1997 where he graduated with a Diploma in IT.

His professional career began at Uchumi Supermarkets, where he was among a team of young IT professionals who implemented robust retail systems across the chain’s operations.

In 2000, Mwendwa founded Kariobangi Sharks, a club that plays in the second-tier nationwide league.

According to Mwendwa, he found a group of six boys playing with a ball made of polythene bags outside Kariobangi Catholic Church. He convinced them to form a football team and the rest, as they say, is history.

The team has performed well over the years, earning several promotions.

Sadly, only one of the six boys who formed Kariobangi Sharks lived to see Mwendwa become FKF boss after the rest were gunned down by police for engaging in crime.

In 2004, Mwendwa embarked on several ventures in the IT field, which included forming his firm, Riverbank Solutions.

The firm provides point of sales payment and loyalty schemes solutions to both private and public sector players and has over 70 IT professionals. Running a football club in one of Nairobi’s slums provided the motivation for Mwendwa to run for the highest seat in Kenyan football.

From a small team playing on a dusty pitch, Kariobangi Sharks now operate like a well-oiled machine. It has 30 players and five officials, all drawing monthly salaries. Every player has a Sh1.5 million health cover.