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By:
The Star Team | |||||||||
| Posted:
Nov,13-2021 01:17:19
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| On February 10, 2016 Nick Mwendwa dethroned Sam Nyamweya as Football Kenya Federation president after securing an overwhelming majority in the national elections held at Moi Stadium, Kasarani. Aged only 37 then, the firebrand football administrator won 50 of the 77 votes cast, to edge out his only rival Ambrose Rachier to the top seat. Prior to his victory, he had zealously served as chairman of National Super League side Kariobangi Sharks who gained promotion to the top tier a year after his election. Incumbent Sam Nyamweya withdrew from the elections just before voting began, following a lawsuit that cast aspersions on his integrity heading into the polls. Nyamweya and two other officials were being investigated for "conspiracy to defraud". Like Mwendwa, Nyamweya was being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over US$170,000 set aside for Kenya's trip to Cape Verde for a 2018 World Cup qualifier in November. Mwendwa's first term in office was marred by a set of controversies. It is during his tenure that former Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson was dismissed and replaced by Stanley Okumbi in 2016. The Scot lodged a case against the federation in 2019 for unfair dismissal and was awarded Sh55 million in unpaid salaries and damages. Williamson coached Harambee Stars between 2014 and 2016. He still lives in Kenya with his family even after going through a cancer treatment that has seen him ailing since 2016. In March this year, world football governing body FIFA, through its disciplinary committee, gave FKF 30 days to pay former head coach Adel Amrouche over Sh109 million ($1.03 million) for wrongful dismissal or face sanctions in failure. The Disciplinary Committee also fined the FKF $37,500 as costs sustained in connection with the arbitration procedures as well as those of the proceedings. In December, 2020, Mwendwa withstood a raging political storm to sail into a second term in office. He secured a second term during the elective Special General Meeting held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi. Mwendwa garnered 77 votes, beating closest competitor Lordvick Aduda who managed five votes while Herbert Mwachiro only had three. Boniface Osano and Dan Mule did not get any vote. The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) had nullified two previous disputed elections before finally clearing after Tribunal boss John Ohaga threw out a petition by Sam Nyamweya and seven others. And immediately after romping into victory, Mwendwa minced no words, saying emphatically he would still contest for two more terms at expiry of his term in October, 2024. “At least by the laws now, I will still be around in the next elections. So, Kenyans should be prepared to be under my leadership for at least two more terms. Football is a lifetime,” Mwendwa had told the media then. “When you choose it, you die with it: I will forever die with it. Of course, people will say I’m overstaying in office, but just like any other person, you can’t think clearly in your first term. “From my conversation with the Senegal FA president, for you to build a nation that loves football, the cycle comes in four years. “On the minimum, you need two and a half cycles to put your federation in order. He told me it took him nine years as president to make the team stable. Now, he is the Caf vice president and you can see why his country is also doing well.” Sources said Mwendwa was also training his eyes on the Fifa Council post for the African Anglophone nations in the next election in 2025. The Kenyan president was among the contestants for the same seat during the last elections held in Morocco in March but he withdrew at the last minute allowing Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Melvin Pinnick to clinch the post. Signs that Mwendwa was on a downward rollercoaster had begun surfacing mid this year. In July, Football Kenya Federation terminated their partnership with online betting firm Odibets citing a breach of contract. This came hot on the heels of another shocking decision in June that cancelled a Sh1.2 billion sponsorship deal with BetKing under unclear circumstances. A year ago, FKF was on the spot over a contentious broadcasting deal with StarTimes after four top-flight sides Gor Mahia, Ulinzi Stars, Mathare United and Zoo Kericho declined an invitation to participate in the 2020-21 season, claiming they had been shortchanged. FKF was also in trouble with Fifa after foreign tacticians Adel Amrouche and Bobby Williamson claimed they were wrongfully dismissed. In May last year, Mwendwa was summoned by the DCI over funds meant for the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Besides, Mwendwa and his team have been at pains to explain why they had to fire Harambee Stars coach Jacob "Ghost" Mulee barely 11 months into the job and hire Turkish gaffer Engin Firat on a two-month contract. Claims of high-handedness at Kandanda House had burgeoned considerably. The latest group to complain were local journalists, who claimed they were being denied their right to interview national team coaches. But Mwendwa's prolonged public spat with Sports CS Amina Mohammed would be his eventual waterloo. Despite the setbacks, Mwendwa is credited with numerous achievements at the helm of the federation. It was under Mwendwa that the national women's football team, Harambee Starlets, dethroned hosts Tanzania to clinch the 2019 Cecafa Senior Women after a hotly contested final at Chamazi Stadium. It is also during his tenure that the federation rolled out comprehensive coaching courses targeting tacticians both in the top and lower tiers. Mwendwa also oversaw Harambee Stars' qualification to the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. This was a pyrrhic victory given the rain started beating him when the DCI launched investigations into how Sh294 million set aside by government was spent throughout the campaign. Mwendwa was on Friday detained at Gigiri police cells. Mwendwa was arrested on Friday evening and taken to the DCI Headquarters where he was questioned on how FKF spent Sh430 million advanced to FKF from 2016 by the Sports, Arts and Social Development for running football activities. | |||||||||
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Source:
The Star
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