CECAFA boss Musonye set for big political plunge, eyes gubernatorial seat

The long-serving Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye is set to make a big political leap, trading football administration for murky world of politics at the 2022 elections.

The fiery football administrator who has steadied the Cecafa ship for two decades, rising through the ranks to his current role in 2000, declared his political ambition on a weekly sports magazine show, ‘The Arena’ on HOT 96 on Saturday afternoon, noting that he will try his hand in becoming the governor of either Nairobi or Kakamega when the polls are called when life of the current parliament comes to an end.

“Time has come for me to go; to do something else and soon I will be stating,” he said.

When queried by the show host John Kyanda on what he exactly intended to do upon handing over the Cecafa baton, he said: “Of course there are several options, but I’m going into politics, not to run as an MP, no! I want to be in charge of several constituencies, I’m talking about being a governor,” he said with his usual wry smile.

When yours truly, on the show as a panelist queried him further, he stated: “Either Nairobi or Kakamega; people are already sounding me out.

He went on: “Of course it’s not the time to politic. His Excellency the President(Uhuru Kenyatta) has said it’s time to work but when the bell is rung we will go all out.”

His bold announcement which he reiterated in our sister stations Mulembe FM and Radio Citizen in a whirlwind interviews on the state of sports in the country on Saturday is expected to trigger major changes in the Cecafa secretariat in the coming days, months and years as the region’s football body begins to plan for life after their football strong man.

Musonye, a former sports journalist was however quick to hasten that his exit from the continent’s oldest football block will be a planned exercise so as not to curtail or hurt the progress made in the past two decades.

“Cecafa won’t crumble when I leave. I won’t allow that. If that happens I would have failed .I’m an organsied man and I must plan,” he insisted.

“I’ll leave leadership in the hands of a young vibrant man who will take it forward,” he said while hailing the region for producing four counties at the 2019 African Cup of Nations finals penciled to take place from mid June in Egypt.

Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania – have all nailed slots to the continental football showpiece set to premier 24 teams for the first time in its history.

Musonye’s looming exit from the body that he has led with distinction has been in the works for some time now. In 2014 in Kigali, Rwanda during the Cecafa Kagame Club Championship he intimidated to yours truly that he was considering calling it a day after decades of service.

Musonye also took time to hail Football Kenya Federation chief Nick Mwendwa for bringing sanity and order to Kenyan football, adding that the youthful football administrator has brought some changes.

“Let’s give the devil its due, Nick has done something,” he said while imploring the government to improve football infrastructure by refurbishing the abandoned Woodley Stadium, City Stadium amongst others.

During his stint at the Cecafa hot seat, the regional body has been one of the vibrant regional affiliations with numerous tournaments.

The senior men football tourney has been augmented by women competitions and now the under- 20 and Under- 17 tourneys.

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Nairobi Nicholas Musonye KAKAMEGA Cecafa secretary general gubernatorial seat

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