This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
On October 23, 2019, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board at Kandanda House, Kasarani, witnessed a significant development in the ongoing presidential elections. Incumbent president Nick Mwendwa was the only candidate who presented his nomination papers, marking a notable difference from his competitors.
Sam Nyamweya, Moses Akaranga, Alex Ole Magelo, and Steve Mburu, the other aspirants, failed to turn up for the nominations. Their absence was attributed to concerns over the electoral process, with some of them claiming it had been altered to favor Mwendwa.
Speaking to Nation Sport on telephone, Nyamweya stated that the matter was in the High Court and Sports Disputes Tribunal, making it 'not procedural to hand in the nomination papers until the matter is heard and determined.'
He emphasized, 'We will hand over the papers after the court and tribunal have decided on the matter.' Nyamweya also clarified that they were firmly in the race and that the insinuation that they were not was misleading to their supporters.
Magelo expressed his intention to seek the intervention of the world football governing body, Fifa, stating, 'We will petition Fifa on this matter because this is a selection and not an election. The Sports Disputes Tribunal should stop favoring Mwendwa.'
Electoral Board chairman Edwin Wamukoya explained that if anyone gunning for the presidency didn't present their nominations by 5 pm, they would not participate in the elections. He clarified that the rules were not made by the Electoral Board but by the FKF delegates.
Meanwhile, Mwendwa, accompanied by his running mate Doris Petra and hundreds of youthful supporters, expressed his confidence in getting clearance to contest. He stated, 'The Electoral Board officials say they will confirm my candidature in three days' time and I am confident of getting clearance.'
Mwendwa highlighted his achievements in his first term, including ensuring that the men's and women's national teams played at their respective Africa Cup of Nations. He also mentioned that the women's team was on course to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in history and that their plan was to try and play at the 2022 or 2026 Fifa World Cup.
As FKF president, Mwendwa would have control over an estimated Sh1.2 billion annual budget, which includes grants from Fifa.
