Keep off our AGM, FKF delegates warn "non-members"

Official Football Kenya Federation (FKF) delegates have sent a stern warning to purported non-members to keep off the Annual General Meeting set for Saturday at the KISE –Kasarani, Nairobi.

Led by Kenyan Premier League clubs representative Patrick Korir of Nairobi City Stars, the 76 delegates in a press briefing Friday morning said they were aware of plans by ‘distracters’ to spoil tomorrow’s event.

The delegates were drawn from Kenyan Premier League clubs, National Super League clubs, Kenya Women Premier League clubs, Division One clubs and FKF branches.

Their sentiments come after Murang’a SEAL football club insisted that FKF presidential aspirant Hussein Mohammed will represent the club at the AGM, while the federation maintains he is not a genuine member of the club.

“What we are saying as FKF Premier League clubs, we must comply with the constitution, and any club that is not complying should not constitute a crisis for the rest of. That is the message and I stand here representing the 18 Kenyan Premier League clubs, saying that if you don’t want to conform with what is in the constitution, then please leave us alone,” said Korir.

His sentiments were echoed by James Kamau of Kiambu County and Lilian Kazungu of Mombasa County.

“We are aware there are individuals calling themselves stakeholders of football that are mobilizing goons from Kiandutu, Kariobangi and other parts of this country to come and disrupt the AGM. We are here to protect the game and the careers of thousands of youths, so tomorrow we shall invoke that Article 30 and alter the agenda so that we kick out any non-member who will be on the floor, so that we can have only genuine members,” a firm Kamau averred.

“We must be left alone to do our meeting as the members in accordance to the constitution. We must also be given space as members to do our election as guided by the constitution. The non-members are not allowed near us when we are conducting this business...” Kazungu added.

A week ago, FKF wrote to Murang’a SEAL saying it did not recognize Hussein as a member, after his name was presented as the representative of the club in the forthcoming AGM.

In a statement released to the media, and signed by FKF Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno, the federation said:

"We are in receipt of your correspondence dated March 5, 2024, nominating Mr. Hussein Mohammed as Murang'a SEAL FC's delegate in the upcoming FKF Congress. Following a comprehensive review of the registration documents and other details thereof regarding Murang’a Seal submitted in compliance with Articles L02 and L03 of the FKF Club Licensing Regulations and Articles 54 and 55 of the CAF men’s club licensing regulations (2022) attached for your reference, we would like to inform you that Hussein Mohammed is nor registered with FKF as a member of Murang’a Seal or FKF general, by Article 11 of the FKF constitution (2017)and Article 8.1.4 of the FKF regulations governing Kenyan football (2019),” the federation said in a letter.

“In light of the aforementioned, Hussein Mohammed is therefore ineligible to represent Murang’a Seal in the upcoming FKF Annual General Meeting,” the letter concluded.

The club reacted by saying they will have Husseain at the AGM, and the declaration that “non members” will not be allowed only escalates the already simmering heat ahead of the AGM.

The AGM is set to provide a clear road map to the October FKF elections, in which FKF president Nick Mwendwa will be seeking a fresh mandate.

A debate is on whether he is eligible to vie on not, and the answer could be provided in the AGM, as the main agenda will be the elections.