Nick Mwendwa, the former president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), has publicly denounced the recent elections, claiming they were neither free nor fair. Mwendwa, whose tenure was abruptly cut short following a defeat to rival Hussein Mohammed, voiced strong objections about the election process, which he believes was manipulated from the start.
Mwendwa’s accusations are significant given the highly contested nature of the election, which saw Hussein Mohammed, a prominent figure in Kenyan football, secure the presidency with a resounding second-round victory. Mohammed’s running mate was none other than former Inter Milan midfielder and Champions League winner, Macdonald Mariga, adding further prominence to the race. Despite Mohammed’s victory, Mwendwa’s perspective on the outcome has raised eyebrows and sparked debates about the integrity of the electoral process within Kenyan football.
According to Mwendwa, the election was compromised from the very beginning, alleging that the process was deeply flawed and marred by unethical practices. He claims that certain individuals gained unauthorized access to voter rolls, using this advantage to influence the voting outcome. Additionally, Mwendwa highlights that some delegates were intentionally prevented from participating in the polls, while others were allegedly pressured to cast their votes in a specific direction. He asserts that these actions undermined the democratic process and turned the elections into a “farce,” as opposed to a legitimate democratic exercise.
This claim of electoral malpractice comes at a time when Mwendwa has been in the spotlight for a series of legal challenges and disputes surrounding his leadership. His administration faced multiple legal battles, and his eventual removal from office was seen by many as a result of both political maneuvering and internal football politics. Despite these challenges, Mwendwa has continued to maintain that his tenure was unfairly cut short, and his recent comments about the election further solidify his stance on the issue.
Mwendwa has also questioned the credibility of the electoral body that oversaw the elections. While the body was supposedly independent, he argues that there was a lack of oversight and accountability, which allowed certain parties to exert undue influence over the process. He suggests that this compromised the neutrality of the election, pointing to instances where candidates were allowed to campaign freely, while others were denied similar opportunities. In particular, Mwendwa is critical of the sudden alterations to the voter rolls, which he believes were designed to favor certain candidates.
In his view, the presence of powerful figures within Kenyan football who supported Hussein Mohammed’s candidacy was a key factor in shaping the election’s outcome. Mwendwa implies that these individuals, many of whom were involved in his removal three years ago, played a significant role in orchestrating the election’s result. This network of influential figures, he contends, ensured that the election tilted in favor of their preferred candidates, thereby diminishing the legitimacy of the entire process.
Mwendwa’s comments have ignited a wider conversation about the state of football governance in Kenya, and the role of power brokers in shaping the direction of the sport. His allegations raise questions about the transparency of the FKF’s electoral processes and whether the body can truly claim to operate independently from external pressures. If Mwendwa’s claims are valid, they suggest a system that is vulnerable to manipulation by vested interests, which ultimately undermines the democratic principles that should govern any election.
It is also worth noting that Mwendwa’s tenure, despite its controversies, was marked by significant achievements, including some progressive moves for Kenyan football. Under his leadership, the FKF secured a groundbreaking partnership with FIFA aimed at increasing the financial sustainability of the Kenyan Premier League clubs. Mwendwa’s vision for the future of Kenyan football was centered around creating a more profitable and self-sustaining league, one where clubs could generate their own revenue and invest in their own growth. This initiative was hailed as a positive step toward the modernization of the sport in Kenya, and it stood in stark contrast to the political turmoil surrounding his leadership.
However, despite these strides, Mwendwa’s fall from power has left a sense of unease within the football community. His defeat, followed by his accusations of electoral malpractice, suggests a deeper issue within Kenyan football governance, where political interests often seem to supersede the needs of the sport itself. Mwendwa’s assertions point to a system where personal rivalries, external influence, and lack of transparency may be distorting the integrity of the decision-making processes that should be focused on promoting football’s growth.
In conclusion, Mwendwa’s claims about the rigged FKF elections add to a growing list of concerns surrounding football governance in Kenya. His accusation that the election process was manipulated highlights the challenges faced by the sport in the country, where politics and power struggles often seem to overshadow the game itself. As the dust settles from the recent elections, it remains to be seen whether the issues raised by Mwendwa will lead to any meaningful reforms or changes in how the FKF conducts its future electoral processes.
