Now elect credible leaders to restore Kenyan football

From left- FKF Presidential aspirants Twaha Mbarak, Samuel Owino 'Kempes' (partly hidden), Atanas Obala Obango head of Operations at X-Treme Sports, Sam Sholei former National player and Tom Alila. Dec 6، 2024. [Jonah Onyango، Standard]

Kenyan football has a date with destiny today. The future of the beautiful game in the country rests with the 92 delegates trooping to the ballot box to elect the next president and vice president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

After a long hiatus, push and pull among football stakeholders, the delegates’ verdict will give a new mandate to the elected FKF officials and task them with restoring lost glory to Kenyan football. For nearly two years, FKF officials have faced increased criticism and faulted for not calling elections.

A court case filed by Milton Nyakundi and differences among delegates have held back today’s exercise for months. Therefore, Kenyan football enthusiasts will be happy to get this done and focus on improving quality of the game on the pitch.

Boardroom wars have diminished Kenyan football with the national teams, Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets barely surviving and winning a few matches here and there. In the meantime, grassroots football has suffered except for dozens of private academies working on their own to develop and nurture talent, but mostly in major towns.

The FKF electoral board has cleared nine candidates to run for president in today’s elections. Outgoing FKF president Nick Mwendwa and his vice president Doris Petra are on the ballot but with Doris on top of the ticket and Nick as her running mate.

Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohamed has entered the ring too, promising to promote grassroots football and build modern facilities. Gor Mahia secretary general Sam Ochola says he is best suited and pledges to improve club football in Kenya. Former Kenyan international Sammy Owino is also in the race promising to take the national teams places.

Former FKF boss Sam Nyamweya is on the ballot too, promising to bring back the golden years of Kenyan football. Others dribbling ball towards top FKF seat are Barry Otieno, Tom Alila, Cleophas Shimanyula and Chris Amimo. Whether they can clinch the coveted goal at Kandanda House will be decided today on the ballot.

For years, Kenyan football leadership has been hit by wrangles, allegations of corruption, mistreatment of national team players and gross incompetence. Today, the 92 delegates have an opportunity to right all these wrongs and shine a light towards a more thriving future.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will co-host the 2027 AFCON, hence the urgent need to put our house in order. The 36th edition of the African showpiece will call for the very best in football management and persons of high integrity. The new FKF leaders must be beyond reproach and have the interests of Kenyan football at hearth.

They must be experienced football administrators and not prone to manipulation from any quarters. Kenyan football deserves the best. Over to the FKF delegates!