ZCZC
BSP-07
FIFA-FBL-ROADMAP
FIFA set to unveil roadmap for Kenya football elections
NAIROBI, Aug 7, 2020 (BSS/XINHUA) – World football governing body FIFA has issued guidelines to be followed in conducting the much-delayed Kenya football elections in a bid to end the stalemate that brought the country to the brink of an international ban.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board confirmed on Friday receiving the FIFA roadmap that will be unveiled to stakeholders in Nairobi on Aug.11.
This is after the current FKF office led by incumbent president Nick Mwendwa petitioned FIFA to resolve the impasse that saw the exercise initially planned for December last year halted twice by a local Tribunal.
FKF Electoral Board chairperson, Kentice Tikolo, said in the brief that the roadmap would be published ‘in the spirit of transparency and fairness.’
“As advised by FIFA, the elections will be carried out in accordance with the FKF statutes and Electoral Code currently in force, and/or the FIFA statutes/guidelines, where applicable,” said the board.
“The board remains cognizant of the COVID-19 situation in the country and has agreed with both FKF and FIFA that the electoral process will be conducted within the existing health regulations in the country, and with the safety and well-being of all involved,” it added.
The east African nation has had no office running football in the country when the tenure of Mwendwa, who is seeking re-election for a second term and his executive committee, expired in March.
However, Mwendwa who was first elected into office in February 2016 has remained at the helm assisted by an employed secretariat after the polls were halted twice over claims of the exercise being skewed in favour of the office holders.
In January, FIFA was dragged into the matter when the world governing body was said to be pressuring the Kenya government to allow local elections to be held on March 27 without following due process.
According to the Kenyan Constitution of 2010 and Sports Act of 2013, all local governing bodies must conform to the Kenyan law that requires all federations to abide by the provisions of the act that set among other things, term limits for officials and financial accountability.
In December 2019, the Sports Registrar, Rose Wasike, annulled the planned elections for noncompliance to the Sports Act in appointing an Electoral Board as well as failure to guarantee public participation.
And in March the Sports Disputes Tribunal halted the elections that had been moved to March 27 once more after ruling FKF had no mandate to run the National Elections.
The Tribunal asked FIFA to appoint a normalization committee to ensure elections are held according to the law.
BSS/XINHUA/SSS/1849 HRS