Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya has called on the Sports Registrar to ensure that the County Football Association get involved in the forthcoming FKF elections set for later this year.
In a signed letter sent to Rose Wasike, and copied to Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, FIFA secretary Fatma Samoura, FKF President Nick Mwendwa, and CEO Barry Otieno, Nyamweya argued the CFA have been responsible for coordinating football activities within their respective counties and should, therefore, be included from the branch level for an all-inclusive exercise.
“Madam Registrar, CFAs as entities have been representing football interests at the county level in Kenya, they have been responsible for coordinating football activities within their respective counties, including organising leagues, tournaments, and other events,” read part of the statement.
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“CFAs have also played a vital role in identifying and developing talent within their regions. They have also been serving as important intermediaries between local football clubs, players, coaches, and the national governing body. They are often best positioned to understand the unique needs and challenges faced by football stakeholders at the grassroots level.
“FKF has started recently the process of having elections that will see branches hold their elections to select leaders of the beautiful game at the branch level (Counties). As per the FKF constitution participants have to meet the set criterion for them to contest. Allowing CFAs to participate in branch elections will have significant implications for the governance structure of football in Kenya.
“On one hand, it will lead to a more decentralized decision-making process, giving local stakeholders a greater voice in how football is managed within their communities. This will also potentially lead to more tailored and effective development initiatives at the grassroots level.”
The veteran Nyamweya further explained why CFA’s have a right to be involved in the exercise. “In 2013 we transited to the Sports Act that governs and guides overall management of football and other sports in the country,” explained Nyamweya.
“Section 46 of the act states that; a body shall not operate as a sports organization unless it is registered under this Act. It goes further to give the Sports Registrar the mandate to register sports organizations as either – (a) a sports club; (b) a county sports association; or (c) a national sports organization. Based on the above FKF and the County Football Associations have been in existence as per the law as both have registered and complied. Both have been running football activities across the country.”
While admitting there has been a tussle between FKF and CFA, on who should manage football at the grassroots, Nyamweya maintained that bringing the two bodies together will end the impasse between the two and improve the management of football across the country.
“CFAs are registered by the Sports Registrar as per the act. FKF is also a national body duly registered under the law and governs football across the country through its administrative units known as branches,” said Nyamweya.
“These are children of the same family. At the branch level, both CFA members and FKF members should be allowed to participate in one election managed by FKF and have one branch leadership that will be under FKF. This will collapse the rivalry and impasse at the branch level and have a seamless management of football across the country.”
On January 6, the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC) kick-started the process to hold the eagerly awaited exercise and the date will be announced during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for March 16 in Nairobi.
Among those who have declared interest in the top seat include Nyamweya, former NEC member Tom Alila, former CEO Omondi Aduda, ex-international Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino, Gor Mahia CEO Sam Ocholla, ex-CECAFA secretary Nicholas Musonye, CFA chairman Charles Njoroge and Extreme Sports CEO Mohamed Hussein.