Nairobi County Assembly has tabled a bill that seeks to compel the county government to pay participation fees for football teams taking part in various leagues in the county.Known as the ‘Kandanda Bill’, if passed will significantly save clubs in Nairobi thousands of shillings they pay in participation fees every year.The bill is being spearheaded by Korogocho West Member of County Assembly (MCA) Absalom Odhiambo Onyango.Gor Mahia centre back welcomes stiff competition for places at heart of defenseOnyango said in an interview that they hope to end the struggles that community clubs go through in trying to take part in the local leagues.“Football is very expensive to run and we understand the pain that clubs go through in trying to participate in the competitions. This bill will significantly change the fortunes of clubs,” he said.Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi East branch Secretary Dickson Doyo also echoed Onyango’s sentiments. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8308163##“It is a great idea and we embrace it. However, our major concern is whether it will be implemented. It is one thing to pass the bill but implementation is another,” he added.Doyo pointed out that if implemented, the bill will radically transform football in the county.“More than 80 per cent of clubs in the county are community teams and normally depend on the goodwill of politicians which is not guaranteed. So they struggle when the expected support does not come so this will change things for them,” he added.Anthony Akumu eyes Harambee Stars redemption after personal 2019 AFCON heartbreakNairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had promised during the launch of the first edition of the Sakaja Super Cup that he would support the bill.“We want our clubs to be self-sustaining and this bill has the support of my government. I promise that it will be law before the second edition of my tournament,” said Sakaja then.Nairobi County has about 800 clubs taking part in its various leagues. With each club paying an average of Ksh20,000, they will collectively save a whooping Ksh1.6 million every year.##NAJAVA_MECA_8308167##It is however important to note that the FKF Premier League and National Super League teams do not pay participation fees.
