FKF presidential hopeful Ochola wants elections board offices moved

Football Kenya Federation presidential hopeful Sam Ochola has questioned the integrity of the elections board ahead of the polls scheduled for December 7, 2024.

The Gor Mahia Secretary-General believes the board must operate from a neutral office to guarantee a free and fair election process.

Ochola will be vying for the FKF presidency together with his running mate Willis Waliaula and has joined other competitors, including former Nyanza NEC member Tom Alila, businessman Cleophas Shimanyula, former international Sammy Kempes Owino, Husein Mohammed and current deputy president Doris Petra.

“FKF Electoral Board operates from Kandanda House; it’s like the President is contesting, but IEBC is based at State House.

“That should not be the case, and to me I think the board should be relocated to the sports ministry headquarters as directed by minister Kipchumba Murkomen.

“We need a free and fair election; to achieve that, the board must be very independent.”

Ochola, however, remained confident in promoting football in the country if he was elected to office.

“When elected, I will pump good money into football at the grassroots and ensure our national men's and women's teams are well taken off.

“Football is a great game that brings people together, and I want to revive it to the highest level.”

The elections board led by Professor Hesbon Owillal is expected to publish the final list of presidential candidates on November 2 ahead of the polls.

Another presidential candidate, Sam Nyamweya, bowed out of the race.

Nyamweya, who previously served as the FKF president before handing over the baton to Nick Mwendwa, said that the decision had been made after ‘deep reflection and consultation’.