Football chiefs react to Nick Mwendwa's election

Nick Mwendwa’s election to the helm of Football Kenya Federation elicited strong feelings of optimism from both local and regional leaders.

Messages of congratulations began to trickle in immediately after the announcement, with many football leaders urging him to remain true to the cause of transforming the most popular Kenyan sport.

Here are a few samples of the leader's reactions:

Nicholas Musonye (Cecafa Secretary General): The delegates have spoken and I congratulate the new FKF president.

In the old days, Kenya was known to be a football powerhouse both in East Africa and in Africa.

We used to host Cecafa and other regional events very well, but over the years the image of our country has been tainted.

A number of bad things have happened with regards to Kenyan football in the last few years, and these have made the country appear bad in the eyes of others.

I am now sure that we shall host the 2018 Chan event, and I urge Nick Mwendwa to bring back sanity to the game.

Hassan Wario (Cabinet Secretary, Sports): I would like to confirm to you here and now that there was no government influence in these elections.

The football stakeholders have spoken and judging by the mood around here, I believe that it was a good decision.

I look forward to working together with the new federation boss, and I hope that the football management in this country will be well organised going forward.

Jamal Malinzi (TFF chairman): I take this opportunity to congratulate Nick Mwendwa for having been elected the new president of the FKF.

This symbolises a new dawn for Kenya and I welcome him into the new position.

Wycliffe Ogutu (Referee’s Association chairman): Referees were the most oppressed individuals in the previous regime, and I think that Nick Mwendwa’s win is also a win for local referees.

He has made several promises for referees in this country, and I pray that he will not be distracted along the way.

Innocent Mutiso (Footballers’ Representative): It was not a matter of if, but when the country would get here.

As a representative of the main stakeholders of football in this country, I am elated with this change of guard.

I am confident that footballers’ interests will be well taken care of, and I am ready to offer the necessary support to the new president and the other office bearers.

Doreen Nabwire (Women’s Representative): Everybody is happy that we have made a sweeping change in the leadership of football in this country.

I am particularly happy that we have a woman vice president for a long time, and I hope that this will be the last time that the neglect that women football has been treated with in this country will be a thing of the past.