The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board has acknowledged the concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding the upcoming elections scheduled for December 7, 2024.
According to a press statement sent to newsrooms, the FKF Electoral Board has been receiving and handling disputes since Tuesday, October 2, 2024, as per the electoral calendar earlier shared.
“Following the publication of Club and Delegates lists, we have received numerous submissions, which we have worked round the clock to resolve and address pursuant to the Electoral Code. We want to assure all soccer stakeholders that the Board and its Secretariat will not relent in its quest to serve Kenyans and especially the interests of soccer lovers by delivering credible elections,” said Hesbon Owilla, FKF Electoral Board Chairperson.
While the names of delegates as well as clubs were generated from the Branch level and returns shared with FKF, Owilla explained that the board’s role is to compile and, where anomalies arise, ask for clarification and relevant documents.
Further, he described it as a fairly interative process involving both the branch officials and FKF Secretariat and that the Board has had to work round the clock to handle the complaints that have arisen.
“The anomalies according to our investigations have been occasioned by the overwhelming numbers that branches have had to deal with following the expansion of eligibility criteria of clubs given that the revised code revises the eligibility to two consecutive seasons of the last five years,” added Owilla, stressing that the FKF Electoral Board has had to work extremely hard over the last two days to update and resolve the complaints as they were received.
Contrary to reports on social media and statements from different stakeholders alleging that the Board has been turning petitioners, the Chairperson categorically stated that the Board has conducted physical hearings and handled all queries arising.
“As of this point, all the submissions and petitions have been investigated, handled, and decisions anchored on robust evidence made and shared with the relevant petitioners,” he assured.
Additionally, Owilla noted that, as per the Electoral Code, an opportunity for further redress following the dispute hearing process will also be availed at the Appeals Board level from October 7, 2024.
The Chairperson announced that the FKF Standing Appeals Board, chaired by Ms. Janet Katisya, is now on standby to further resolve any disputes, and as such, FKF Members could submit their disputes to the Appeals Board through the email appeals@eb.footballkenya.org and make payments as stipulated in the FKF Electoral Code.
“Concerns have also been raised about the Electoral Board operating from Kandanda House. Under the FKF Electoral Code Section 3 1(g), the headquarters of the Electoral Board shall be the same as those of FKF unless the board itself decides otherwise. This position was also ratified at the SGM held on 24th August 2024,” stated Owilla.
He affirmed that the Football Kenya Federation Elections Board is committed to overseeing free, fair, transparent, credible, and verifiable elections and that the Board was counting on all the stakeholders to help it make this happen to achieve its core mandate of ensuring that the upcoming elections strengthen football and pave the way for its continued growth and development.
By Michael Omondi
