Jitters on FKF elections over alleged illegitimate delegates

Homa Bay County FKF chairperson aspirant Tom Ogol (center) and various clubs leaders address alleged concerns over irregularities ahead of FKF Elections. [James Omoro, Standard]

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) delegates in Homa Bay County are decrying alleged suspected irregularities ahead of their election next month.

Officials of various clubs in the county have expressed concerns that unknown persons have infiltrated their lists of delegates.

Joshua Ong'olo, the team manager of Aros FC in Karachuonyo Constituency is one of the complainants. Ong'olo said someone's name had been inserted in the list of his club officials.

"I have seen someone's name whose is not a member of my club. This is wrong," Ong'olo said.

Job Oreta, the coach of Kalanding FC in Kasipul Constituency said they had also noticed a name of a stranger.

"The man has never been a delegate in my club. I don't know how his name came to be in our club register," Oreta said.

Peter Orinde, the chairman of Blue Rangers FC in Karachuonyo said he found the name of another person as the chairman for their club.

They called on the FKF leadership in the county to address the issues.

"We appeal to FKF leadership in our county to address these issues," Orinde said.

They also recorded statements at Homa Bay Police Station to enable the DCI officers to investigate the matter.

Three clubs are among more than 15 clubs which have similar complaints in Homa Bay County.

FKF aspirant for the county chairperson Tom Ogol complained that the trick is aimed at causing election irregularities.

Ogol argued that there are some aspirants who infiltrate genuine lists of delegates with wrong delegates to enable them get unfair advantage.

"These anomalies cut across the county. I suspect there are people who want to create lists of delegates who are loyal to them so that they can be elected easily. But we are not going to accept the practice," Ogol said.

He warned against impersonation being perpetrated in the county.

"We need a fair electoral process. Let us have clean lists of delegates," Ogol said.

However, FKF chairman in Homa Bay County Maurice Ogweno dismissed the claims saying none of the complaining clubs had presented grievances to his office or the federation's bodies mandated to handle complaints.

"The club officials who are complaining have not complained in my office. They have also not complained to our complaints desk, appeals committee or sports disputes tribunal," Ogweno said.

He said the complaints are motivated by vested interests of a candidate.

"I think these clubs are being pushed by a candidate who feels that the delegates are unfriendly to him. This is propaganda and let the clubs which are complaining use the official procedure to seek redress," Ogweno said.