The reign of Nick Mwendwa as Football Kenya Federation (FKF) honcho came with diminishing powers of the Kenya Premier League clubs.A decade earlier, the clubs had broken free from the yolk of maladministration, uncertainties and poverty when they sought to self-govern under the Kenyan Premier League Limited. The gains were, however, reversed in 2020 when FKF refused to renew KPL’s mandate to manage the top-flight. The clubs have since existed to be seen, not to be heard, but that could be changing now.##NAJAVA_MECA_6766846##In latest bold and daring moves, the clubs through their Chief Executive Officers, CEOs made it clear that they would not feature in any competitions that are not recognised by FIFA, the world’s football body. The FKF Transition Committee, now nonexistent, took heed and sought audience with them. FIFA suspended Kenya from all football activities in February over third party interference.Despite being declared the winners of the controversial 2021-22 KPL season, Tusker FC were locked out of the CAF Interclubs due to the prevailing FIFA suspension. Several Sports Dispute Tribunal, SDT rulings have further dented the credibility of the season with word on the ground suggesting that it could be scrapped when the dust settles. It is this confusion clubs are taking a stand against before they burn resources again, venturing into another unknown future.”We’ve decided to speak in one voice and try to find a solution to the impasse we’re currently in. We’re stronger when united, and that’s what we want to pursue. As administrators we have come under pressure from various quarters, including players, whom we have had to pay without any football activities, sponsors are also on our necks as they want value for money, which we can’t give without competitive football back,” Raymond Oruo, the CEO of Gor Mahia, told Mozzart Sport.##NAJAVA_MECA_6767113##The CEOs invited FKF CEO, Barry Otieno in their most recent gathering, where they settled on November 12 – 20 as the tentative dates for the 2022-23 season kick-off, “FKF knows the calendar of events and it’s only prudent we consult them all the way, they’re also the only ones at the moment with the capacity to effectively run a league,” Oruo added.They agreed for player registration to be opened on October 20 for a whole month to enable clubs to regularize new signings. The integrity of the game, at a time allegations of match fixing are rife, was also discussed. But even more importantly, there was an agreement that should the league fail to conclude in time, the team topping the charts by June/July next year will represent the country in the African Champions League.In the meantime, the CEOs are hoping that the FIFA suspension will be lifted before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 gets underway on November 20. A delegation from the Zurich-based body is rumored to be coming to the country on November 7.Congratulations my brother Dan Shikanda a.k.a Jaya on retaining the AFC Leopards Chairman’s seat. Ingwe Yola 🐆The new officeChairman- Dr. Dan ShikandaSecretary General- Gabriel AnduguTreasurer- Oliver Napali Imbenzi#IngweDecides #ingwe #Football #aBoyFromKakamega pic.twitter.com/Yw5d0N1iGz— Bramwel Karamoja (@bramwelkaramoja) June 26, 2022 ‘It must be clear that we want to work with all stakeholders in the game to see that football under FIFA resumes as soon as possible. We’re not at war with anyone, not the federation or the government, but there’s a need for us, as the most affected by this situation, to work together,” Mathare United CEO Jecton Obure said.At the height of football wrangles under the former FKF (then KFF) president Alfred Sambu in 2005, a section of the KPL clubs led by among others Mathare United and Thika United broke away and eventually formed the Kenyan Premier League Limited, an independent body affiliated to the federation to run the top-flight.More from KPL CEOs on playing in an unsanctioned league by @FKFtransition committee and reacting to yesterday’s message by @Football_Kenya chair @Nmwendwa pic.twitter.com/cMXnqAVSVh— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) September 21, 2022 The arrangement was dropped under Mwendwa despite some resistance with the league’ management reverting to the FKF. Nonetheless, there has been a muted clamor for the old order to return as a way of professionalizing the league, but nothing much has been achieved with the clubs lacking unity of purpose. Most of the clubs have been accused of kowtowing to the FKF and recently the Caretaker/Transition Committee. Could this new-found union of through the CEOs be the icebreaker?”We intend to continue working together, we want to champion our interests, and be heard as clubs, but as for now our main aim is to seek football back in the fields,” said Oruo.Former KFF general secretary Lordvick Aduda has, yet, poured cold water on the CEOs efforts, saying their actions are ultra vires, “It’s only the club chairmen allowed to speak and act on behalf of the clubs, not the CEOs, who are mere employees.”
