Ex-Kenyan international and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential candidate Sammy Owino ‘Kempes’ has elected to challeng the Electoral Code, at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.Owino is seeking to compel FIFA to establish a normalization committee in Kenya to oversee the upcoming FKF elections, in the interest of a fair exercise. Speaking to the media on Saturday at a Nairobi hotel, the former Gor Mahia midfielder stated, “The only sensible path forward to normalizing the state of football is the institution of a Normalization Committee by FIFA.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8322365##Owino, who filed the case through advocate Charles Ouma on September 3, expressed concerns that despite revisions to the Electoral Code, the changes do not guarantee a truly fair and transparent electoral process.”These challenges are inevitable given the current situation, regardless of who wins the upcoming elections.”He also emphasized that the current electoral path, as established during the Special General Meeting (SGM) held by the FKF General Assembly on August 24, would not lead to a free, fair, and credible election.”The path initiated by FKF through the just-concluded SGM will not result in a free, fair, and credible election. Instead, it will lock out qualified individuals and clubs from participating despite the electoral code changes that were made. It will also result in continued litigation.”Owino highlighted a specific clause in the Electoral Code that requires presidential candidates to have been directly involved in football over the past two years, either as a player, coach, referee, club official, NEC member, or in other relevant roles.”This clause,” Kempes argues, “could disqualify capable individuals who have contributed to football in ways not explicitly outlined in the code.”Kempes: Poor leadership, corruption killing Kenyan footballAddressing concerns about his eligibility, given his residency in the USA, Owino clarified, “I was born in Kenya. I am a Kenyan citizen, and therefore I’m qualified—if not more qualified than any candidate out there.”He further added, “According to the constitution, dual citizenship only prevents you from running for specified positions in the government, and the FKF presidency is not one of them. The courts have made decisions on that, so for me, it is a non-issue.”US-based ex-international ‘Kempes’ Owino to build football academy in Kenya
