Big split in FKF Mwendwa camp ahead of elections – Weekly Citizen

The end of FKF President Nick Mwendwa’s reign seems to have come in a dramatic fashion as his  empire at the federation is falling apart like cards with his key allies and supporters deserting him in droves in his hour of need.

FIFA has ordered FKF to hold elections  early next year.

Following our expose in last week’s issue of Weekly Citizen where we detailed why the government does not want Mwendwa in the federation, shocked NEC Members and Branch officials who have all along been wining and dining with the embattled FKF President are dumping him in droves led by FKF Nairobi Branch Chairman Michael Ouma who was seen as the heir apparent once Mwendwa is arrested to face multiple charges in court.

Ahead of 2016 FKF Elections Ouma was Mwendwa’a point man in Nairobi and since Mwendwa ascended to the leadership of the most popular sport in the world, Ouma has been wielding power in the federation more than any Branch Chairman and even more than NEC Members.

According to impeccable sources in FKF, having gone through our last week’s expose, Ouma along with FKF Nairobi NEC Member Amimo are convinced that supporting Mwendwa is a very risky business since all indications are that he will soon face arrest and all those associating with him and who are deemed as having benefitted from millions of shillings Mwendwa has diverted from the government, sponsors, CAF and FIFA will face the same fate.

Nyamweya

Not to be left behind is NEC Member for Nyanza Andere who rode on former FKF President Sam Nyamweya’s wave to clinch the seat in 2016 after former Nyamweya’s kingpin in Nyanza Tom Onyango Alila opted not to defend the seat he won with a landslide in 2011 when he contested in Nyamweya’s camp.

Andere who is feeling the heat on the ground with entire Nyanza which has Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii and Nyamira counties all fully behind Nyamweya’s candidature knows too well that sticking with Mwendwa is like staying put in a ship where holes have been drilled and water in the ocean are finding their way into the ship.

Since deserting Mwendwa, Andere has been sending messages through Nyamweya’s confidants to arrange for a meeting since he is keen to join Team Sam Nyamweya which has heavyweights like former AFC Leopards Chairman and first Nairobi County Speaker Alex ole Magelo, first Vihiga County Governor and the brainchild behind Vihiga FC Moses Akaranga, wealthy prominent businessman Steve Mburu from Central, former powerful NEC Member for Nyanza who is one of Nyamweya’s key allies  Tom Alila and former FKF Chief Executive Officer under Nyamweya’s reign Lodvick Omondi Aduda.

NEC Members representing Coast, North Eastern, Western, Eastern and Rift Valley have all joined the major exodus and are holding a meeting next week to seek an appointment with Nyamweya whom they have all vowed to support since it is now emerging that Mwendwa has turned FKF into a cash cow at the expense of developing football in the country and they do not want history to judge them harshly.

In coast Nyamweya has scored big after uniting his ally Mohammed Omar and his opponent for the FKF Presidency in 2011 Twaha Mbarak with both vowing to work together and lock coast votes in favour of Nyamweya while former Nairobi Governor Evan Kidero’s Chief of Staff George Waianaina who was NEC Member for Central having been elected in Nyamweya’s camp has vowed to back Nyamweya for the top seat since Mwendwa has taken Kenyan football to the dogs. Former Nyamweya ally in Nairobi Mugo who participated in County elections which were trashed by SDT is also back in Team Sam Nyamweya.

Akaranga

Mwendwa shot himself in the foot when he wrote a letter to FIFA accusing the government of interfering in FKF affairs a case which made FIFA to dispatched a top official in-charge of associations and an official from CAF to come to Nairobi last week on a fact finding mission.

Mwendwa’s efforts to block the two officials from meeting with CS for Sports Ambassador Amina Mohamed, PS for Sports Ambassador Kirimi Kaberia and Sports Registrar Rose Wasike fell flat and when the two officials sent by FIFA finally met with the three government officials and the truth was laid bare they were shocked at the rot in FKF under Mwendwa’s watch.

The two officials insisted that since the term of Mwendwa’s team is ending on February 20 next year they should not extend their stay in office and an all inclusive FKF elections must be held by March a situation Mwendwa is not happy with since he wanted to over stay in the office and manipulate the process and his re-election plans have gone up in smoke since FIFA sent officials have supported ruling by Sports Disputes Tribunal to have a new Elections Board in place to conduct the all inclusive elections with a level playing field.

In Team Sam Nyamweya it is all system go since a strong Committee (Pentagon) has been put in place to ensure the former FKF boss whose impressive record in football management speaks for itself reclaims the seat to save Kenyans football along with those who will be in his camp. They have put in place a financial war chest which will shake Kenyan football campaigns considering the fact that Mwendwa has looted millions from the federation which he wants to use to but votes but his sins and crimes are working against him.