Football Kenya Federation (FKF) held its Special General Meeting in what was the opening stage of preparations for the upcoming federation elections.
Muranga Seals vice chairman Hussein Mohammed has shown interest in vying for the seat of FKF President and his bid today received a boost when the congress at the SGM voted to amend the FKF 2019/2020 Electoral code.
During the SGM held in Nairobi, Saturday, August 24, 2024, 89 delegates among them the representatives from the 45 FKF Branches as well as the 18 FKF Premier League, 10 FKF National Super League, 3 FKF Women Premier League, 2 FKF Women National Super League and 10 FKF Division One League all unanimously voted to amend the FKF Electoral code on eligibility in a bid to make the elections inclusive.
Tusker FC Chairman Charles Gacheru took to the floor to propose amendments to the code to align with recommendations from the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) during the last elections which said that the current code was not inclusive and made elections look like a mere coronation of the incumbent.
The Tribunal had raised concerns about the eligibility criteria outlined in the code, deeming it restrictive and contrary to the principles of fair competition.
According to the new amended code, candidates seeking elections are now required to have been actively involved in football— whether as an NEC member, committee member, referee, coach, or in any other technical, medical, or administrative role within FKF, a league, or a club—for two of the last five years preceding their candidacy. Under the 2019-20 FKF Electoral Code, candidates were required to have been actively involved in football for three of the four years preceding their candidacy.
However, raising eyebrows is whether Hussein Mohammed will be eligible to vie for the position after FKF only acknowledged his membership in Muranga Seals in July 2024.
It will be Muranga Seals with the burden of proof as to whether Hussein has been their member for the last two years or he has just been recently recruited for the sole purpose of elections.
Hussein, who is the founder of the defunct Super 8 grassroots tournament is not known to have been a member of any FKF affiliate or club over the years and his vice chairman position at Muranga Seals only came to the public knowledge in March this year.
How then will Muranga Seals, who have been filling their documents for the purposes of club licensing every year prove that Hussein was all along their member, but his name was not included in their register?
During the SGM, both Hussein, sitting in for Muranga Seals, and his club chairman Robert Macharia who is also the FKF Muranga county chairman supported the amendments even attracting a comment form FKF president Nick Mwendwa who said “Muranga is now happy his amendment has been passed”.
Muranga Seals was only promoted to the FKF Premier league in the 2023/24 season and prior, during their competition in the lower division National Super League, Hussein was never mentioned anywhere as a member of the club, until the election year came and he had to look for membership.
In a letter dated August 19, 2024, FKF acknowledged that indeed Hussein Mohammed is a registered member of Muranga seal and was enrolled to the club through the Club Licensing Online Platform CLOP on July 25th 2024.
Muranga Seals nominated Hussein to represent the club at the Annual General Meeting in March but the nomination was declined as Hussein was not found in the register of both FKF or Muranga Seals.