The Kenya Football Federation has been dealt a massive blow after world football governing body FIFA directed that the fresh elections be conducted holistically to restore order and sanity.
In a response to correspondence by FKF secretary general Barry Otieno that had requested the federation’s input on the going ons as regards the FKF elections, FIFA directed that the polls should kickstart from the branches to the national level.
“Given the present circumstances, we are of the view that FKF elections shall be organized as soon as the situation permits and in line with safety precautions implemented by the relevant Kenyan authorities,” read the letter signed by Veron Motsengo-Omba.
“In addition, for the sake of good order and to guarantee a peaceful context, we encourage FKF to start as a whole the electoral process (i.e from branches to national level) in accordance with FKF statutes, and electoral code currently into force, and/or the FIFA statutes/guidelines where required or applicable.”
The directive effectively brings to an end the debate about the integrity of the branch elections that were held in March 2020 and which were characterised by walk-overs but which Mwendwa has insisted are credible and will remain in place.
The Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) through its chairman John Ohaga had also dismissed the said branch elections terming them unconstitutional and directed for the formation of a normalization committee to oversee a repeat of the same.
In his ruling, justice Ohaga said the electoral code on which the whole polls had been premised was a sham and had not factored in individual rights to contest which was a violation of the constitution.
While the latest step by FIFA is likely to chart a claerer roadmap to the long overdue polls, further complications could still rise if the polls will be conducted in accordance to the current FKF electoral codes as it has indicated considering that they have been found to be in violation of the country’s constitution.
Mwendwa on his part has also been unequivocal that he will not call for any Special General Meeting (SGM) to review the code as was directed by the SDT.
