NEW DAWN AT FKF: Hugs and laughs as ‘Team Change’ sweeps FKF elections
Football
By
Rodgers Eshitemi
| Feb 11, 2016
It is a new dawn for Kenyan football after Nick Mwendwa was elected new Football Kenya Federation President.
It was joy for the Mwendwa-led Team Change at Kasarani, venue of yesterday’s elections, as they won all the eight National Executive Committee seats and with that came the mandate to oversee the country’s football matters for the next four years.
Mwendwa, 37, garnered 50 votes, beating Kenyan Premier League and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, who got 27 out of the total 77 votes cast.
Delegates who participated in the elections were drawn from KPL clubs, FKF Premier League clubs, Division One clubs, FKF branches, coaches, players and referee associations.
In his acceptance speech, a jubilant Mwendwa promised to fulfil his campaign promises with grassroots football and upcoming Harambee Stars assignments topping his agenda.
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“I expected this victory. Today, Team Change has shown that with determination and objectives, everything is possible. We have done it and won the elections,” said Mwendwa.
“Now that I am the president of the new federation, it is time to work. Everything that we talked about will be fully implemented. We will be at the federation tomorrow (today) with my team to start planning.
“We have a lot of things to do, beginning from the grassroots, to Harambee Stars, whose match against Guinea will be next month. Next will be to discuss some matters with KPL,” he concluded.
Rachier and Robert Asembo were among the biggest losers in the elections. Former Nairobi Region chairman Simon Mugo, Angeline Mwikali, Omar Mohammed (all former NEC members) and Ulinzi Stars official Joe Birgen also lost their seats.
Rachier hailed the Electoral Board and IED for conducting a fair and transparent election, but took a swipe at the delegates, claiming “they voted with their stomachs”.
“What I saw was a very good and transparent exercise. It was well organised, and the counting was above board. I am proud of the board and IED for a job well done,” Rachier said.
“But I will not talk well of what happened in the background. I think there was exchange of money and most people voted with their stomachs, not conscience.
“All the same, I am in football for the love of it and will continue running KPL and Gor Mahia. I will fully support the new president.”
Asembo, an immediate Vice Chairman, did not get any vote as he sought to defend his seat.
In the National Executive Committee elections, David Gikaria (42) beat Joe Birgen to win the Rift Valley seat.
Timothy Nabea clinched the Eastern seat with 52 votes, ousting outgoing Angelina Mwikali who got 23 votes. Raphael Katana beat outgoing Omar Mohammed by 44-19 votes to claim the
Coast seat as Chris Amimo won the Nairobi seat with 31 votes, 19 more than outgoing Simon Mugo who finished third behind Eric Obura.
Joseph Andere won the Nyanza seat by a landslide after garnering 54 votes ahead of Charles Birundi, who got 23 votes, replacing Tom Alila who didn’t contest. Tony Kweya is the new
Western NEC member after getting 36 votes to oust Elly Mukolwe (14) with David Njoroge winning the Central seat.