Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has addressed the eligibility criteria for Football Kenya Federation (FKF) candidates. Murkomen appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture on October 5, where he answered questions on the upcoming FKF elections and the state of sports in the country.
He said that the Sports Act prohibits an outgoing FKF president from pursuing a vice presidency.
“Under FKF’s election rules, term limits prevent a former president from assuming a senior role like vice president. It’s essential to uphold the spirit of these regulations.” Said CS Murkomen.
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Nick Mwendwa who has served for two terms as the FKF boss, is running as vice president alongside Doris Petra who served as his deputy during his tenure.
“Anyone who thinks law is absent in my opinion is misinterpreting the law. As long as we said we will be having term limits, it is not possible, it is not neat, it is not nice, and it is not even morally good to find yourself in a place of being president and then the next day deputy president,” as CS Murkomen.
Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen Pushes for Transparency in FKF Elections
Beyond Mwendwa’s ineligibility, Murkomen also announced measures to strengthen the FKF election process, which are scheduled for December 7, 2024. The Sports Ministry plans to deploy observers to ensure that FKF election procedures meet high credibility standards. Murkomen affirmed that adherence to the Sports Act will be enforced strictly, and that the Ministry will conduct detailed vetting of each candidate.
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“Ensuring transparency is our top priority. Observers will monitor the election process to verify its integrity.” Murkomen said.
The measures include appointing Ministry representatives as observers throughout the election, aiming to create a fair, transparent environment for all candidates and maintain the credibility of the election.
FKF Electoral Board Faces Scrutiny for Candidate Exclusions
The FKF Electoral Board has recently come under fire for its decision to disqualify several candidates from the upcoming elections. High-profile aspirants, including Salim Ali Said (Mombasa), Eliakim Mbaliwa (Nakuru), and others from counties like Mandera and Taita Taveta, were excluded despite claiming to be eligible under FKF’s electoral rules.
The decision has led to widespread criticism, with many candidates calling for transparency. In response, the Electoral Board will appear before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture to address these exclusions. This appearance is expected to provide clarity on the grounds for disqualification and the Board’s adherence to electoral standards.
FKF Election Aspirants Demand Transparency
Several presidential aspirants for the FKF presidency, including Hussein Mohammed and Barry Otieno, have voiced concerns over the transparency of the electoral process. Some candidates have alleged tampering with the voter register.