On Thursday, September 26, the FKF Electoral Board released the official roadmap and guidelines for the upcoming 2024 elections. The five-member board, formed earlier on September 23, had pledged to make all election-related information publicly accessible, striving to deliver what is widely anticipated to be a “free, fair, and transparent” election.
During the board’s inauguration, Chairperson Hesborn Owilla reaffirmed the commitment to sharing the election timeline within three days, as promised.
“Our role is not only to deliver a fair and transparent election but also a credible and verifiable one. We will ensure that every voice counts. We will provide a detailed roadmap for the elections in the next three days. It will be on our website; our projection is that we will be done with the elections by mid-December,” said Owilla.
Key points from the roadmap include the national elections scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2024, with results expected later that day. A full list of national election delegates, who will be responsible for the voting process, is set to be published on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The roadmap also includes publishing the list of eligible clubs and delegates by the end of September, with a final list following potential disputes expected by October 10.
Additionally, a preliminary list of candidates for County, National Executive Committee (NEC), and Presidential positions will be revealed on Monday, October 21. County elections will take place on Saturday, November 9.
The elections will commence from the branch level moving up to the national level.
Amended Guidelines
As proposed during the August Special General Meeting, the FKF Electoral Board has updated the FKF Electoral Code to reflect changes unanimously agreed upon by the delegates. The revisions, based on Tusker Chairman Charles Gacheru’s suggestions from August 24, specifically amend Section 4.2 of the 2019/2020 code.
According to Gacheru’s proposal, the 2019/2020 Football Kenya Federation Electoral Code, initially planned for reuse in the upcoming elections, was criticized for being selective and failing to address crucial aspects of ‘openness and transparency’ in the electoral process. In addition to what he termed as “hygiene changes,” Gacheru suggested major revisions to Section 4.2, which outlines the election guidelines, including the removal of three subsections.
A key issue raised was the required number of years candidates must have been actively involved in football, with Gacheru referencing specific guidelines from the previous FKF Electoral Board, chaired by Kentice Tikolo.
Under the new guidelines, eligibility for all elective positions—President, Vice President, NEC members, and county or branch officials—requires active involvement in football (as a player or official) for “two of the last five years.”
This amendment broadens the eligibility requirements from the previous rule, which mandated “active participation in football for three of the last four years,” allowing more candidates to enter the race. Subsections (iv) and (v) were also adjusted, referred to as “hygiene changes,” as they align with broader election guidelines. Additionally, candidates for these positions “must be a Kenyan citizen by birth.”
Previously, the requirement only stated that candidates must be Kenyan citizens who are at least 18 years old.
The FKF Electoral Board concluded by reaffirming their dedication to overseeing free and fair elections in accordance with both FKF and FIFA statutes. “The calendar has been developed to ensure an efficient process, and updates will be continuously communicated to participants and posted on the website for scrutiny.”
Government’s Stance on the Elections
Speaking in the National Assembly, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports clarified the issue of FKF term limits, emphasizing that officials are restricted to two terms.
“A letter has been sent to FKF from the sports registrar, clearly stating that under the Sports Act, no one will run for office for more than two terms. If FKF officials who have served two terms wish to continue, they should seek a different office from the one they currently hold,” said CS Murkomen.
Murkomen also expressed his intention to collaborate with the Electoral Board to ensure a fair election process. He hinted at the possibility of involving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for technical support, should the board agree.
“I am going to meet with the elections board to explore providing them with a neutral government facility for their operations, and possibly offering technical assistance through the IEBC. While we may not directly run the elections, it is our oversight responsibility to ensure the process is independent and credible. We want an FKF that stakeholders can trust,” he added.
The board members include Chairman Hesbon Owilla, Secretary Marceline Sande, Dan Mule, Alfred Nganga, and James Waindi. There was no official mention of the IEBC being formally involved in running the elections.