Final list of delegates, clubs out Sunday ahead of branch polls

Members of the Football Kenya Federation’s Electoral Board Edwin Wamukoya, Naftali Nyaberega and FKF Secretary-General Michael Esakwa exchange pleasantries before addressing the media after a meeting in Nairobi on January 22, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • Chairmen of all 24 branches agree on venues
  • Verification to ensure consensus among all stakeholders heading into crucial phase
  • During Saturday’s verification exercise, branch chairmen of all the 24 branches agreed on the venues for the elections which start on Tuesday.

Football Kenya Federation Electoral Board will release a final list of delegates and clubs on Sunday, laying the ground for elections at the branches on Tuesday.

The board met branch officials yesterday in Nairobi to verify the list of clubs and delegates who will vote on Tuesday. By yesterday evening, seven members of the board, including secretary Irene Tindi, Steve Mburu, Edwin Wamukoya and FKF CEO Michael Esakwa were holed up in a meeting at Zetech University’s StanBank Campus where branch chairmen and their secretaries had turned up for the verification exercise. 

The list of verified clubs will be out today, but it will be published on the board’s website as well as in the local dailies tomorrow ahead of Tuesday’s branch elections.

“So far so good. As you can see, we are working harmoniously and with representation from the federation. The process started on time but there were some delays that is why we are still here,” Wamukoya said. “We are yet to verify about eight more branches. Once we compile the list, we shall publish it on various media outlets on Monday.

NO MORE DELAYS

“Fifa officials were very categorical that we entertain no further postponements, so we shall sit here through the night if need be,” Wamukoya said.

Saturday’s process went on relatively smoothly, although former Kenyan international Dan Shikanda and Nairobi Branch chairman Michael Ouma both appeared for the meeting claiming to be the branch’s bonafide representatives at the meeting.

FKF Secretary-General Michael Esakwa confirmed Ouma was the bonafide representative.

Shikanda, who is gunning for the federation’s vice presidency, told Sunday Nation Sport, said: “I have discovered that there is a deliberate effort by the board to favour one candidate.”

“In the sub branch elections for instance, clubs like Makadara Youth were omitted from the list, while others like Shy FC which have not participated in the league for the last three years and Nairobi Water which was not in the original list were included,” he added.

“Everyone wants to see change of guard at the top but it is important that we observe democracy and fairness throughout this process.”

During Saturday’s verification exercise, branch chairmen of all the 24 branches agreed on the venues for the elections which start on Tuesday.