Petra - Mwendwa FKF ticket valid, says Mwingi lawmaker Nguna

Mwingi West Member of Parliament Charles Nguna Ngusya now says that Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa is eligible to vie as Doris Petra’s running mate in the forthcoming federation’s national elections on December 7.

Nguna, who sits at the Parliamentary Sports Committee, said the FKF Electoral Board appeared before the Committee presided over by Kabete MP Kamau Wamacukuru on Wednesday, and clarified why Mwendwa qualifies.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba  Murkomen had on Tuesday told the same Committee that the outgoing FKF boss is not eligible to vie as a Deputy President, but invited the board to pronounce themselves on the matter.

“We met the Board on Wednesday and after a thorough perusal of the FIFA (world football governing body) and FKF constitutions, it’s clear that any member can vie for a different post after completion of two terms and that means that Nick (Mwendwa) is eligible to vie in  a different position in the forthcoming elections," explained Nguna.

The Electoral Board Chairperson Dr. Hesbon Owilla said the Board had established firm measures to guarantee legitimacy, fairness and freedom of the elections - and that Mwendwa is qualified to contest.

“Article 37 of the Federation’s constitution is clear that the president upon clearing his term is free to run for any other seat,” 

He said the board had established firm measures to guarantee the legitimacy, fairness and freedom of the elections. The board has already finished training Returning Officers ahead of the county elections that commence on November 9,” he said.

“I want to reassure the Committee that, unlike in the past, there will be no more phoney delegates participating in the elections,” added Owilla, in the meeting with the Committee.

In addition to Petra and Mwendwa’s ticket, the race for FKF top job has attracted several prominent figures including former Gor Mahia player and Kenyan international Sammy “Kempes” Owino, ex-FKF CEO Barry Otieno, CEO of Extreme Sports Hussein Mohammed and Kakamega Homeboyz Chairman Cleophas Shimanyula.

Tom Alila, FKF National Executive Committee member Chris Amimo, and Gor Mahia Secretary General Sam Ocholla are also in the race.