Postpone football elections, says Senate

Football Kenya Federation President Sam Nyamweya. Mr Nyamweya and secretary-general Michael Esakwa are to be charged with fraud following investigations into use of funds meant to cater for the travel of the national team. PHOTO |CHRIS OMOLLO

What you need to know:

  • Senators have called for the postponement of the Football Kenya Elections.
  • During a debate in the House on Thursday, Senators Hassan Omar Hassan (Mombasa) and Johnson Muthama (Machakos) expressed fears that the current FKF officials may be re-elected
  • Sonko also wanted the House to be briefed on how the proceeds of the contract between the FKF and a broadcast rights marketing company.
  • Senate Committee on Labour and Welfare was directed to look into the petition and submit its findings within two weeks.

Senators have called for the postponement of the Football Kenya Elections (FKF), which get under way on Friday at the sub-branch level.

They want FKF investigated for graft and mismanagement.

During a debate in the House on Thursday, Senators Hassan Omar Hassan (Mombasa) and Johnson Muthama (Machakos) expressed fears that the current FKF officials may be re-elected.

“If it happens that these elections proceed tomorrow (Friday) or the day after and the same people are re-elected these people are likely to frustrate any further intervention we can make,” Senator Hassan said.

Muthama asked the government to order a probe into allegations of graft. “The problem is stealing money, stealing, stealing, and stealing but if deal with the stealing of the money the problems will be finished in this country,” the Machakos Senator said.

OPERATING ILLEGALLY

They were contributing to a debate brought to the floor by Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, who claimed the federation was operating illegally.
“FKF is in operation illegally, contrary to the 2013 Sports Act. They were supposed to be registered with the Ministry of Sports but up to now they are yet to do so,” he said.

Sonko also wanted the House to be briefed on how the proceeds of the contract between the FKF and a broadcast rights marketing company.

“I want the minister to give clarification on the agreement between FKF and MP and Silva Company based in Monaco, whereby FKF, received Sh1 million of dollars for the Kenya Premier League, where each of the companies was to receive Sh1 million on a monthly basis during the period of the league. “I have the federation statements which show that the money was wired to the FKF account and it was withdrawn in cash by Mr. Nyamweya and his deputies, the money was misappropriated.

AUDIT OF FKF ACCOUNTS

“The matter was forwarded to the Director CID vide a letter dated June 23, 2015, up to now no action has been taken. What is the ministry’s position on that?” Sonko said.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale called for an audit of FKF accounts. “At the headquarters in Zurich, all the bosses have been suspended including Sepp Blatter, so this little bush that Sam Nyamweya has been hiding in, should now be broken and that veil removed and a forensic audit to be done so that so that these people if anything should be found not fit to run for re-election,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula urged the Speaker to treat the matter as urgent.

“Because of the state of football in the country, we would want to encourage the chair when the report is ready, we are ready to come for a special sitting to deal with this matter and those who are culpable, must be made to feel the full weight of the law. We can’t allow profiteers to infiltrate our sporting activities and destroy the lives of young people,” Wetangula said.

The Senate Committee on Labour and Welfare was directed to look into the petition and submit its findings within two weeks.