NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15 – “By all legal means possible, we will eject anyone who wants to stop our AGM.” Those are the words of a section of delegates ahead of what is expected to be a stormy Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) On Saturday morning, at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).
In an apparent message aimed at ‘any unofficial attendee of the AGM’, a press conference convinced by about 60 delegates of Saturday’s AGM, with representation from FKF Premier League, National Super League and several branches, vowed to ‘protect the constitution of FKF’.
“We are aware that there are some individuals calling themselves stakeholders in football that are getting goons to come and disrupt the AGM. We are here to protect the image and future careers of our youngsters in football,” alleged FKF Kiambu County chairman James Kamau.
He added; “We have lobbied ourselves and we have garnered about 90pc and we are ready to support Article 30 (4) of the FKF constitution that allows us to alter the agenda of tomorrow’s AGM to throw out any non-member who might have sneaked his way into the meeting hall.”
The latest storm brews from FKF Premier League side Murang’a Seal, who have insisted that Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohammed will attend the AGM as their representative. However, the Federation insists that Mohammed is not a registered official of the club, as per Club Licensing documents submitted at the start of the season.
Seal, through their chairman and owner Robert Macharia insisted that Hussein, who is reportedly eyeing the president’s seat at the upcoming elections, will attend the AGM on their behalf.
But, speaking on behalf of FKF Premier League Clubs, Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir stated that according to Article 8.14 of the FKF Constitution of 2017, a club can only be represented by an official who has officially been listed in documents presented to the Federation.
“If a club is to present someone who is not registered with the federation as their official or member, do they have any business wanting to be part of the AGM? Any club that does not comply to those articles should not constitute a crisis for the rest of us,” Korir said, speaking during the presser.
The brewing storm is expected to hit feverpitch early Saturday morning and it is left to be seen whether indeed Hussein will attend the AGM on behalf of Murang’a Seal.
Mohammed has already posted on his social media handles his intention to be there, and oppose several items on the agenda, including most of the financials, in the road leading to the elections.
He also insinuated that the electoral code used in the last election is flawed, and has suggested that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should conduct the elections.
FKF had earlier insinuated that the electoral rules used in the previous election, will be used this time again. A contentious electoral rule from the previous polls stated that anyone who hasn’t been actively involved in football over the last three years cannot contest for a seat.
And, the delegates who spoke on Friday afternoon in Kasarani have stated they will back the Federation’s Constitution, and will not allow any loophole for ‘non-members’ to present their views on the floor of the AGM.
“It is our responsibility as the Congress to protect the FKF constitution. We cannot allow non-members in and we want to assure whoever wants to come and disrupt the AGM, without winking, that we will not allow that,” Lucy Kithinji, the Nyandarua Branch Chair said.
His sentiments were shared by Darajani Gogo chairman Yussuf Swaleh who spoke as a representative of National Super League clubs.
“Those bringing this confusion are doing so in their own bad motives and as delegates we are guided by our constitution. We will not allow any member knowingly or unknowingly to disrespect our constitution,” said Swaleh.
This year’s FKF AGM is expected to be crucial as it will lay out the roadmap to the elections, and among items to be discussed on Saturday include the electoral code and constitution of the electoral board.
