Hussein Mohammed calls for changes after unveiling of FKF elections board

Just hours after the unveiling of the FKF Electoral Board, presidential aspirant Hussein Mohammed has registered his dissatisfaction and wants a few changes made.

The Extreme Sports CEO reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the electoral board in delivering a transparent, free, fair, and credible electoral process that will restore the integrity of Kenyan football.

However, he insists issues of concern must be addressed to ensure the elections are conducted in a way that respects the will of all football stakeholders in the country.

The Muranga Seal vice president wants the voter register made public.

"The voter register must be made public, transparent, and safeguarded from tampering to ensure that every eligible voter has a fair say in this election," Hussein said.

Mohammed also wants the Electoral Board to demonstrate its independence by operating from a neutral location entirely detached from Kandanda House.

This, he alleges, is crucial to ensuring the electoral process remains free from any influence by FKF officials.

Mohammed also wants the involvement of the IEBC to guarantee impartiality and professionalism.

"We strongly urge the Electoral Board to engage the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to oversee the elections."

He insists that IEBC has the technical expertise and experience necessary to ensure a credible and transparent process.

On resolving disputes at the grassroots level, Mohammed wants all voter register disputes and other electoral grievances resolved where they originate rather than in Nairobi.

According to Hussein, this approach will empower local football stakeholders and ensure their concerns are addressed fairly and promptly.

He further wants the electoral board to be in compliance with the Sports Act 2013 and the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

To enhance accessibility and fairness, he demands that polling stations for branch grassroots elections be located at county headquarters. According to him, this will allow football delegates and voters to participate in the process without facing unnecessary logistical challenges and intimidation.

"While we welcome the release of the roadmap, we will not hesitate to hold the FKF Electoral Board accountable if they fail to adhere to the principles of transparency, fairness, and integrity. The future of Kenyan football depends on a credible election, and we are fully committed to ensuring that happens," Mohammed said.

The five-member electoral board that was unveiled, on Monday will be chaired by Hesbon Owilla. The other members are former AFC Leopards chairman Dan Mule, Marcelene Sande (secretary) Alfred Nganga, and SJAK president James Waindi.

By press time, the federation had not responded on the same, however, electoral board chairman Owilla was confident his team would handle a free and fair election without any hitches.

"We discussed the Kandanda House matter as a board and concluded that we are an independent body that can work anywhere and will be accessible to all the candidates," Owilla said.

Owilla added that they will give the election roadmap within three days, with all the necessary information being available on their website for the election. The elections he promised will be held before December 15, 2024. 

Mohammed and former Kenyan international Sammy Kempes have declared their candidature for the seat, with the incumbent Nick Mwendwa defending his seat.