FKF Electoral Board under fire as showdown with stakeholders looms

FKF presidential aspirants (from left) Twaha Mbarak, Nicholas Musonye, Lordvick Aduda, and Sammy Sholei at Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi, on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. [Stafford Ondego]

Football Kenya Federation is under fire following news it would publish road map and regulations to be used in overseeing the upcoming elections and unveil it on Tuesday, August 11.

Lawyers representing ex-FKF boss Sam Nyamweya, Lordvic Aduda, Twaha Mbarak among others have asked the federation to withdraw its statement, saying under the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT), the entire electoral process was nullified and has to be done afresh.

They also argue the federation has no power to issue roadmaps, being their mandate is limited to overseeing National and County Elections.

They also blasted the federation for the creation of regulations and a roadmap which they deemed unconstitutional.

“Any roadmap or regulation on FKF elections that is made without the involvement of Football stakeholders is unconstitutional and therefore null and void. Any roadmap or regulation on FKF elections that is made in contravention with the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal in SDT 3 and 5 of 2020 is contemptuous,” they argued.

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has twice nullified the intended elections, first on December 3 last year and on March 17 this year, citing the flouting of the FIFA Standard Electoral Code and the Constitution of Kenya.

FKF President Nick Mwendwa at Goal Project unveiling Sh1.2 billion sponsorship deal with Betking towards sponsoring the Kenyan Premier League and the Women League. July 16, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Football's world governing body, FIFA, directed the electoral board of FKF on the next steps concerning the pending polls.

“In the spirit of transparency and fairness, the Board will publish the road map and regulations to be used in overseeing the said elections on Tuesday, August11, 2020.

“As advised by FIFA, the elections will be carried out in accordance with the FKF statutes and ElectoralCode currently in force, and/or the FIFA statutes/guidelines, where applicable,” FKF said in a statement seen by The Standard Sport.

“The Board remains cognizant of the COVID – 19 situation in the country and has agreed with both FKF and FIFA that the electoral process will be conducted within the existing health regulations in the country, and with the safety and well-being of all involved,” the governing body of football in Kenya added.

Seven sub-branches of FKF across the country have complied with the Sports Act 2013.

As a result, the Sports Registrar Rose Wasike registered six more counties raising the total tally to seven associations that have complied with the Sports Act 2013 ahead of the pending poll.

Mombasa County was the first to comply with the Sports Act and was registered to set the pace for the other counties to follow suit.

Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Taita Taveta, Kilifi and Kwale sub-branches were registered by the Sports Registrar after complying with the Sports Act.

The Sports Act 2013, empowers Sports Registrar to register County Sports Associations that have complied with the Act and any other relevant law.

 

 

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