Sam Nyamweya warming up to contest for FKF presidency

The number of aspirants hoping to land the Football Kenya Federation (FKF)’s top seat is expected to swell in coming days with former president Sam Nyamweya throwing hat to the ring.

With the polls set to be conducted next year, individuals wishing to gun for the presidency have been openly strategizing through meeting various stakeholders, issuing statements and doing all manner of things to woo the delegates to vote in their favour.

Although some are yet to formally announce their candidatures, Mozzart Sport understands that Gor Mahia secretary general Sam Ocholla, Extreme Sports Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hussein Mohammed and former Harambee Stars midfielder Sam Owino popularly known as Kempes are interested for the seat.

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Nyamweya appeared to suggest that had made up his mind to vie for the seat he held between 2011 to 2016.

He claimed that he had answered the call by stakeholders and supporters to vie for the seat as he is still eligible in as far as term limit was concerned.

“After wide consultations with some of my supporters, they have urged me to offer myself as a presidential candidate for the forthcoming FKF elections set for February 2024. I want to confirm after making further consultations with stakeholders, I am considering offering myself for the top seat to help salvage the sport in the country and finish my two terms which were interrupted by reckless ambitious people,” read part of the statement.

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The former federation boss failed to defend his seat in 2016 with Nick Mwendwa succeeding him after flooring his main competitor Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier in the polls.

Mwendwa went on to defend his seat in October 2020 after garnering 77 out of a possible 85 votes in a race that attracted five candidates.

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It is not yet clear whether Mwendwa will offer to defend his seat or the regulations on term limit will lock him out.

Full statement

I have keenly been following the happenings in our local football since I stepped down as the FKF President eight years ago and must admit that the country’s number one game has come from bad to worse.

Kenyan football has simply become a laughing stock in Africa under the regime led by Nick Mwendwa, and it is unfortunate that even our neighbouring countries are now way ahead of us. When I was leaving office, I left many sponsors on board but unfortunately, most of them have now run away because of the mismanagement of the game by the Mwendwa office.

After wide consultations with some of my supporters, they have urged me to offer myself as a presidential candidate for the forthcoming FKF elections set for February 2024. I want to confirm after making further consultations with stakeholders, I am considering offering myself for the top seat to help salvage the sport in the country and finish my two terms which were interrupted by reckless ambitious people.

I am the only one better placed to salvage our football where it is now because I have experience globally and I know what it takes to save the situation. All stakeholders have consulted me and my supporters and I am soon going to meet my team to chart the way forward.

I want to take this opportunity to ask our dear sponsors to remain calm as we prepare for a strong comeback. In 2011, when I was elected in a landslide victory (globally no one has ever beaten my record), I found football in turmoil but still managed to stabilise it by bringing back fans to our stadia, sponsors, and putting more emphasis on the national team Harambee Stars and women’s national team Harambee Starlets and I cannot sit down and leave football and talent going down the drain.

I will soon issue a statement on the next step.

Sam Nyamweya