STAGE SET FOR FKF ELECTIONS: Board dispenses with appeals and is ready to conduct national polls tomorrow

fkf elections aborted in Nakuru Ballot boxes that were supposed to be used to conduct Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nakuru Sub-branch elections at Crist the King in Nakuru Town on December 4,2015. The elections failed to kick off after the delegates found their clubs names missing from the list. PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH

The stage is set for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) national elections to be held tomorrow after the appeals board dismissed two cases before it.

The appeals board chaired by Adan Mohammed threw out the appeal lodged by losers in Western branch while the other appeal that had been lodged by losers in Nyanza South branch was withdrawn at the last minute.

But there was drama regarding the Nyanza South appeal. Initially, it was supposed to be heard on Saturday but the petitioners did not provide proof that they had paid the mandatory appeals fees.

The petitioners turned up with a receipt dated 2015 which the board dismissed and they were then given one hour to provide proof from the bank that they had paid the same, but this they did not happen, raising doubts over whether they paid the appeal fees in the first place.

Come Monday morning and unable to provide evidence of payment, the petitioner, Peter Omwando, withdrew the appeal.

The appeals board dismissed the Western Branch case after the petitioner failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the elections warranted a re-run.

The appeal had been lodged by Fred Serenge, who cited massive irregularities, which he claimed did not make the process free and fair.
He also argued that the Returning Officer did not correct the irregularities.
But in its ruling the appeals board said the cited irregularities did not affect the outcome of the exercise.

“We have come to the conclusion that the alleged irregularities, malpractices or non-compliance with the relevant laws, were not proved to satisfaction.

“Furthermore, if any irregularities, malpractices or noncompliance with the law existed, they were minor and did not affect the result of the FKF Western Branch elections,” the board said in its ruling.

With the case clear, Yobes Ondieki and Elkanah Muok will retain their status as delegates from Nyanza South while Western branch chairman Patrick Lubembe and secretary George Baraza also retain their places.