By Raymond Wanjohi
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential hopeful Hussein Mohammed and his running mate MacDonald Mariga have taken their campaigns to Mt Kenya region ahead of the hotly contested polls slated for December 7, 2024.
Hussein and Mariga, who were joined by other top National Executive Council (NEC) aspirants in their camp, held a football symposium with hundreds of football stakeholders from the region, where they assured them of good governance.
Hussein said his team seeks to offer fresh leadership in the management of football in the country.
“We are grateful that Mt Kenya region has spoken loud and clear that our team is committed and resolute in bringing in leadership that this country is looking for in football administration matters. We thank the stakeholders for endorsing our team for the FKF leadership,” Hussein said.
The team met the stakeholders at Bantu Africa Resort in Nyeri town.
“We don’t want a leadership where everything is shrouded in mystery. It is time for fresh leadership and that is what we want to offer. It is important that we work as a team to ensure we have a smooth transition,” the FKF presidential aspirant said.
Hussein expressed optimism that the FKF electoral board will conduct the elections fairly.
“We have communicated to the FKF electoral board our concerns about the upcoming elections. It will be an opportunity of a lifetime for football stakeholders and we will push for a free, fair, all-inclusive, transparent, credible and verifiable election,” he said.
Immaculate Onyango, FKF’s NEC woman representative hopeful, said her candidature is geared towards ensuring that women football teams are empowered from the grassroots to the national level.
Onyango said she seeks to ensure that the women league countrywide attract sponsors who will support their unique talents in football.
“We want to ensure that women in this country are given a fair opportunity to participate in football. The women’s teams at the lower level should have a branding tool so that they attract sponsors,” she said.
Onyango said the candidature of Hussein and Mariga is keen in empowering women to contest for various FKF elective seats.
“Involvement of women in FKF leadership means bringing in fresh air. For a long time, we have not been given a platform to air our views. Our team, led by Hussein and Mariga, has ensured that women contest for various leadership positions at FKF from the grassroots to the national level. We want to achieve collectively,” said Onyango.
Hussein picked Mariga, a former Kenyan International footballer, to run for FKF’s top seat that is currently headed by President Nick Mwendwa.
