Football elections: Mwendwa dilemma as sub-branches, stakeholders mount pressure

The dawn of a new decade that begins with the year 2020 will be the toughest one yet for Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa, whose ability to navigate through the pressure of his own mistakes for the past four years will be tested to the nerve.

Mwendwa, whose term in office is just over a month from its end, faces a stern test to oversee democratic elections in 39 days and is under the sharp spotlight from world-governing body – FIFA, who have seemingly thrown him under the bus after he orchestrated the abortion of the football elections last year.

He had ignored calls by stakeholders to have public participation in the coming up with the elections code and installation of the electoral board. His FKF ended up with an egg on its face after the Sports Disputes Tribunal nullified the exercise, directing Mwendwa and co to begin the exercise afresh and involve stakeholders through a elaborate public participation framework.

His attempts to hoodwink Zurich into believing there was third-party interference fell flat as the world body ordered that FKF must comply with the SDT directive and hold the elections by 10 February 2020; with a slight loosening of the noose on Mwendwa’s neck with a month’s extension.

The federation boss, who circulated a new code to the branches early December now faces another hurdle with sub-branches now convening their own general meetings to discuss the code which they say disenfranchises them.

They have started mobilising themselves under the slogan #NoSub-branchesNoElections and have lined up dozens of general meetings in the next few days to a fortnight.

With next week’s deadline, as per Mwendwa’s timeline to the branches, fast approaching all is not well as sub-branches clamour to have the elections start from their level. Mwendwa wants the polls conducted from the branches then national, with the sub-branches coming last.

Further woes emanate from the fact that Mwendwa’s push to have the 2017 Constitution apply in the elections facing headwinds after the Sports Registrar said it had not been registered with her as required by the Sports Act 2013.

Registrar, Rose Wasike, has also maintained there would be no elections without full compliance to the requirements of the Act, especially having clubs and grassroots associations registered with her office.

That was her firm message to the FIFA delegation that was in Nairobi during a meeting, which Mwendwa was barred from attending.

Unconfirmed reports suggest Mwendwa is headed to Zurich this month in the company of Wasike, PS Peter Kaberia and CS Amina Mohammed, where (if true) the elections will form the sole agenda.

His predecessor, Sam Nyamweya, was instrumental in having the elections nullified by being one of the applicants in the petition before the SDT and has now vowed to ensure there is reforms in football administration and its leadership.

Nyamweya, who is credited for wrestling management of the Kenyan game from the hands of Football Kenya Limited – a limited liability company in 2011, has described his new mission as the second liberation. He is interested in a return to the helm of FKF and issued a strong New Year’s statement through the media.

Mwendwa is also under the spotlight for financial impropriety regarding KS125 million outside broadcasting equipment and KSh244 million disbursed to his federation from the Sports Fund for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Directorate of Criminal Investigations and government auditors are already at Kandanda House for the probe.

Below is his statement in full:

Dear Football Family,

A New Decade, A New Year, 2020 the year of Second and Final Liberation.

Dear Family as we look back and reflect at the Football Landscape, we ushered in the last decade by liberating our football from the control of a Limited Liability Company named and styled Football Kenya Limited which had deceitfully taken the beautiful game in Kenya from the masses.

I offered myself to lead a majority of the Football family who had been locked out of the Game by the stroke of a pen.  

We together Liberated the beautiful game and handed over the leadership and control back to the masses, the grassroots and to the to the authentic Football Family in an all inclusive elections that was stakeholders centered, FIFA driven and Government backed. 

The greatest beneficiary of the First Liberation being the grassroot football, for the first time in the history of our nation clubs from the sub branches had a direct say and voted in their leaders in an all inclusive election in 2011.

A decade later we find ourselves in a similar situation though not against a limited liability Company but a battle to wrestle the beautiful game from the control and dominance of a cartel that has ruined the beautiful game in our beloved Nation Kenya.

I therefore make a clarion call to the Football Family, the FKF Sub Branches, Clubs, Coaches, Referees, Players , Fans to join me in ushering in the Second and final Liberation of the game we all love the beautiful game of Football.

The Second Liberation as it was with the first Liberation will not be easy but will call for men and women of Character and resolve, to stand up against threats, manipulation, intimidation and enticement through the money function.

Our strength is in our unity of purpose for the total Liberation of the beautiful game and for the benefit of the current and future generation of our players, Coaches, Referees, Match Commissars, Referees Assessors, Instructors, administrators and the football family as a whole.

As we did in 2011, We can again in 2020.

As we come to the end of a Decade and usher in a New year and a New Decade, May the 12 months of the New year be full of achievements to bring you Joy, Peace and prosperity.

May 2020 be the best year of your life. Wave goodbye to 2019 and embrace 2020.