Candidates gear up for FKF County elections

The upcoming Football Kenya Federation (FKF) county-level elections, scheduled for Saturday, will not take place in four counties, as all candidates cleared by the Electoral Board to vie for the five county positions are running unopposed. The counties affected by this development are Baringo, Kirinyaga, Makueni, and Tharaka Nithi.

In Homa Bay, Mandera, Nakuru, Samburu, Tana River, and Trans Nzoia counties, there will be no elections for the chairperson and running mate positions, as candidates cleared for these roles also stand unopposed.

The elections will proceed across 48 counties for positions including secretary, treasurer, women representative, and youth representative. Notably, Nairobi has been divided into two counties for election purposes: Nairobi West and Nairobi East.

The FKF Electoral Board, chaired by Hesbon Owilla, released the finalised list of candidates for county, National Executive Committee (NEC) member, and presidential positions this past Saturday. Those elected as county chairpersons will participate as delegates in the upcoming national elections on December 7 to elect the FKF president, vice president, and NEC members.

Ninety-two delegates will vote in the national elections, where eight candidates are vying for the FKF presidency.

The candidates include current FKF vice president Doris Petra, former FKF Secretary General Barry Otieno, former Kenya international Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino, and Gor Mahia Secretary General Sam Ochola. Other contenders are Murang’a Seal vice chairman Hussein Mohammed, NEC member Chris Amimo, sports administrator Tom Alila, and Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula. Each candidate has been cleared alongside their respective running mates.

Veteran sports administrator Sam Nyamweya, who was cleared by the board, has withdrawn from the presidential race, formally announcing his exit on October 26.

Voting rights for the county-level elections are restricted to delegates cleared by the Electoral Board, with the final delegate list published—Garissa County’s delegate list remains pending due to an ongoing appeal filed at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT).

Among the unopposed candidates for county branch chairperson roles are Keneth Kiprop (Baringo), Denis Murimi (Kirinyaga), Samuel Mwongela (Makueni), Daniel Hibichu (Tharaka Nithi), Mourice Ogwen (Homa Bay), Ismail Mohamed (Mandera), Francis Oliele (Nakuru), Jamestieno Lolochum (Samburu), Odha Ilu Hayes (Tana River), and Francis Wafula (Trans Nzoia).

While various positions across the 48 counties have unopposed candidates, Mandera has no aspirants for the women’s representative seat.