Murkomen and Owila differ on Nick Mwendwa's eligibility to contest

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board chairman Hesbon Owila have differed on the eligibility of outgoing FKF president Nick Mwendwa to contest in the upcoming elections.The national elections slated for December 7 will be preceded by County polls on Saturday.While Murkomen insists that the law bars Mwendwa, who has served two four-year terms in office, from vying as a running mate for his deputy Doris Petra, Owila said that the federation’s constitution allows him to contest.Even though Sports Act 2013 states that newly elected office bearers shall hold office for a period of four years and may be elected for one further term, it is silent on the controversial issue of the sitting president reversing the roles.On the other hand, article 37 of the FKF constitution states that all members will be eligible to serve for a maximum of two terms in a position. Thereafter one is free to seek election in a different position as it shall count as a new term of office in its own right.And while appearing before the National Assembly Sports Committee on Tuesday, Murkomen and Owila gave different opinions to the Committee chaired by Kabete MP Kamau Wamacukuru.Murkomen said he had reached out to Mwendwa to rescind his decision to contest.“The law is clear that anybody picked as a running mate should have the same qualifications of the presidential candidate so that in case anything happens to the president, he can take over office,” said Murkomen who appeared first before the Committee.“It is not morally good to serve as the federation’s president then during elections you present yourself as a deputy.“I have had a conversation with Mwendwa on this matter and we agreed he should not run.”But for Owila, his Board made no mistake when it cleared Mwendwa to deputise Petra in the elections.“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 explained.“I want to assure the Committee that fake delegates will no longer participate in the elections as it has been before.”                                                      Owila's sentiments were echoed by the Committee’s legal Officer clarified to the MPs that according to article 37 of the federation’s constitution the law allowed Mwendwa to run as a deputy.